A man was allegedly stabbed and two other people, including a man with a small child in his arms, were attacked, in the latest in a series of knife attacks that have shocked Australia.
Distressing CCTV footage showed a man wielding a knife in a pharmacy in the coastal town of Torquay, 105 kilometers south-west of Melbourne, about 10.45am on Saturday.
The man, aged in his 50s, entered the Torquay Pharmacy on Gilbert St and threatened customers with a knife before allegedly kicking and punching a man at the counter. He then raised his fists in a boxing stance.
The man then walked out while another man tried to stop him and allegedly assaulted another person as terrified customers ran to the back of the store.
Police said a man armed with a knife entered several businesses on Zeally Bay Rd and Fischer St, the Herald Sun reported.
A man was allegedly stabbed and two other people, including a man with a small child in his arms, were allegedly assaulted, in the latest in a series of knife attacks in Australia.
“It is believed he then approached a man and (allegedly) stabbed him on Zeally Bay Road,” Victoria Police spokesperson Caitlin Knight said.
The man suffered minor injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene.
The man then returned to the pharmacy and allegedly assaulted two people, whom he did not know, police said.
The alleged offender ran from the store but was arrested a short time later at a house in Torquay.
He was taken to hospital for evaluation and mental health was reportedly a factor in the alleged incidents.
Distressing CCTV footage showed a man wielding a knife (right) at a pharmacy in the coastal town of Torquay, 105 kilometers south-west of Melbourne, at around 10.45am on Saturday.
The alleged offender (pictured right) ran out of the store but was arrested a short time later.
Staff knew the man, pharmacy assistant Sally Irwin said.
“There were a lot of people in the store trying to get medicine and he just lost it,” she told the Herald Sun.
“On his way out, he pushed someone against the front door and said threateningly that he would come back for us all.”
There were about 15 people, including children, in the store at the time.
The alleged attack comes just weeks after a series of stabbings in Australia, including the Bondi Junction massacre.
“Given what’s been happening lately, it’s affected us all, it’s terrifying,” Ms Irwin said.