A man has been arrested following a major manhunt after an allegedly “targeted” stabbing outside a Sydney gym.
Emergency services rushed to the Crunch Fitness gym in Alexandria in the city’s inner south about 12.30pm on Wednesday after a man allegedly stabbed a 39-year-old woman inside the carpark before fleeing in a vehicle.
The woman, who was rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition, suffered wounds to her neck, upper body and head during the attack.
NSW Police issued a statement on Thursday morning saying a man had been arrested about 7.50am.
The 45-year-old man, who is known to the woman, presented to Dee Why Police Station where he was arrested and taken to Manly Police Station.
Detective Superintendent Rodney Hart said initial inquiries suggested the victim and alleged offender were previously in a “very short” relationship, and the man was known to police for domestic violence related offences.
“It’s horrendous what has happened to this poor victim,” he said.
He said a kitchen-style knife had been used in the attack, which police believe was “targeted”.
A witness told 9 News that he saw the woman was bleeding from her neck and ears.
One witness, named Claire, told the ABC that she was about to enter the gym when she heard “a scream” and said she saw the man on top of the woman.
“Because of the distance, I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do to her. It looked like he was attacking her or he was trying to rob her,” she said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said Wednesday’s stabbing was a “horrifying and shocking” attack.
“It would be every woman’s worst nightmare to be in that situation, particularly somebody that has taken out an apprehended domestic violence order,” he said.
“It’s important to say that these events are not rare, either. They are common, and the number and frequency of domestic violence offences in NSW represents an absolute emergency in the state.”
His comment come as the government is set to introduce bail reform in domestic violence cases, with the Premier flagging on Thursday that he was open to further reform on how Apprehended Violence Orders (AVO) are monitored.
The attack comes one day after the NSW government flagged the introduction of increased police powers that would allow authorities to “wand” people for knives in areas such as shopping centres and transport hubs.
The laws, which will likely be introduced into NSW parliament next week, will be made available in circumstances where a relevant weapons offence/knife crime have occurred within the past six months and be available to police for 12 hours, with the option to extend.