Australian MP Helen Haines critically injured after attack by car

Mick Tsikas/AAP Image/AP

Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was in a critical condition on Monday after being deliberately struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, police and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Victoria Police said a 43-year-old man had been arrested after the attack on independent MP Haines inWangaratta, around three hours’ drive northeast of Melbourne.

Haines, 65, was airlifted to hospital, Albanese said.

“All of our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her friends, her team, and her community at this extremely difficult time. We are praying for her full recovery,” Albanese told a press conference.

Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason told a press conference there was no further threat to the public.

Albanese said it was too early to determine the motive for the attack, though a terrorism taskforce would be investigating the arrested suspect.

“We thank the swift assistance of bystanders and the dedicated health workers who assisted her, and police for their response,” a statement by Haines’ family posted on her Facebook page said.

米克·齐卡斯/AAP图片/美联社

警方和总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯表示，澳大利亚议员海伦·海恩斯周一在旺加拉塔的办公室外被一辆汽车故意撞击，目前情况危急。

维多利亚州警方表示，一名 43 岁男子因在旺加拉塔袭击独立议员海恩斯而被捕，旺加拉塔位于墨尔本东北方向约三小时车程处。

阿尔巴内塞说，65岁的海恩斯已被空运至医院。

“在这个极其艰难的时刻，我们所有人的心都与海伦、她的家人、朋友、团队和社区同在。我们祈祷她早日康复，”阿尔巴内塞在新闻发布会上说。

维多利亚州警方代理警司阿什利·梅森在新闻发布会上表示，公众不再受到威胁。

阿尔巴尼斯表示，现在判断袭击动机还为时过早，不过反恐工作组将对被捕嫌疑人展开调查。

海恩斯的家人在她的Facebook页面上发表声明说：“我们感谢旁观者的迅速帮助、尽职尽责的医护人员对她的救助，以及警方的迅速反应。”