‘Nothing short of heroic’: Bystanders subdue attacker who stabbed 4 in New Zealand supermarket
Bystanders at a New Zealand supermarket were praised as heroes Monday after tackling a man who stabbed at least four people in what cops believe to be a “random attack.”
Two of the victims were customers and the two others were staff members at the Countdown supermarket in Dunedin, a city in New Zealand’s South Island, police said. Three of them were hospitalized in critical condition.
The suspect, whose name and charges have not been released, sustained a minor injury during a struggle with a group that stopped him from hurting even more people inside the store, according to police.
New Zealand Police Superintendent Paul Basham said video from a surveillance camera shows the bystanders’ actions were “nothing short of heroic.” He described the images as “quite traumatic.”
“What I can say is that those that intervened, some of whom became injured themselves, I think have acted selflessly and with great courage to prevent this man from hurting anybody else,” Basham told reporters at a news conference.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the motive behind the attack was still under investigation but there was no immediate evidence of domestic terrorism.
“Needless to say that such an attack is hugely concerning, and I do want to acknowledge the really early reports of courageous acts by bystanders who have taken action in order to protect those around them,” she said.
Basham said the evidence collected so far suggests “this was a random attack.”
The supermarket chain said the Dunedin store would be closed Monday and Tuesday because of the incident.
“We are shocked and devastated by the events in our Dunedin Central Store this afternoon,” Countdown officials said in a statement. “Our priority right now is our injured team members and caring for our wider team in the wake of this extremely traumatic event. We are deeply upset that customers who tried to help our team members were also injured.”
