Home Australia Coles bans the sale of knives after staff member was allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old boy

Coles bans the sale of knives after staff member was allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old boy

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Police take away a 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing a Coles worker in the back on Monday.

Coles banned the sale of knives after a 13-year-old boy allegedly stabbed an employee in Queensland on Monday.

Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, a mother of two, was stacking refrigerators at the supermarket in Ipswich’s Yamanto Central, south-west of Brisbane, shortly before 5.30pm on Monday when she was allegedly attacked from behind.

As she continues to fight for her life in hospital in critical condition, her alleged attacker, aged 13, has been charged with attempted murder and remains in custody.

Following the incident, a Coles spokesperson said the supermarket would withdraw its range of kitchen knives from sale in supermarkets across Australia.

“Coles complies with all legislation relating to the sale of kitchen knives, and this recall is being carried out as a precaution while we carry out a review,” the statement said.

“The safety of our team members and our customers is our number one priority in all aspects of our business.”

Let’s say sushi worker Dshering Dema was working in front of the supermarket on Monday afternoon when she heard screams and saw people running out of the store.

He went to see what the commotion was about and saw that the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pooling around her.

“It was very scary, I came back and I was shaking,” he told AAP.

Police take away a 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing a Coles worker in the back on Monday.

Police returned on Tuesday to the Coles supermarket where the alleged stabbing took place.

Police returned on Tuesday to the Coles supermarket where the alleged stabbing took place.

The boy tried to run away, but shoppers and security staff detained him until police arrived.

Ms Campomayor Watt was treated by police before being transported by paramedics to Princess Alexander Hospital, where she remains in a critical but stable condition.

The teenager was charged overnight and his matter was mentioned at Ipswich Youth Court on Tuesday.

The boy did not appear in person and the lawyer on duty, Peta Dent, requested a postponement so that a brief of evidence could be prepared.

The teenager was remanded in custody to appear in court again on February 25.

Detective Inspector Michael Gesto condemned the violent attack.

“This is an abhorrent crime that happened to an innocent 63-year-old woman doing her daily job in that shopping center and it should not happen in society,” he said.

Police confirmed the alleged attack was random and believe the boy acted alone.

Detectives are investigating how he obtained the knife, as recent legislation known as ‘Jack’s Law’ restricts its sales in Queensland.

Ms. Dema said the incident made her worry about coming to work.

“Now I feel very unsafe here,” she said.

Yamanto Central (pictured) was evacuated on Monday as police launched an investigation.

Yamanto Central (pictured) was evacuated on Monday as police launched an investigation.

Police have assured the community that there will be high visibility patrols in Yamanto Central.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also condemned the incident, calling it traumatic and reflective of a wider problem facing the state.

“What has happened is something no Queenslander wants to see,” he said.

“There is a sense of deja-vu in the state and it is exactly the type of incidents Queenslanders are already fed up with.”

The Prime Minister flagged new changes to youth justice legislation, following “adult crime, adult time” laws passed in December which did not include tougher sentences for attempted murder.

“I have already indicated that we are forming a panel of experts to make future changes,” he said.

Opposition leader Steven Miles sent his condolences to the family of the worker who was “senselessly attacked”.

The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teenager in a shopping center car park.

Ms. White’s daughter, Cindy Micallef, said she felt history repeating itself as she was about to mark the first anniversary of her mother’s death.

‘It’s absolutely horrible. This is very surreal… it’s like deja-vu. How can this be happening again?’ he told the Nine Network’s Today programme.

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