Hero Britons help detain knife-wielding man in Sydney after one woman killed and one injured

Ross McGuinness
Updated

Three Britons have described the “very surreal” moment they apprehended a knife-wielding man in Sydney after he allegedly stabbed one woman to death and seriously injured another.

Footage posted online appears to show the suspect standing on a vehicle roof, holding a knife aloft and shouting, before being taken down by bystanders who trapped him using crates and chairs.

Police and witnesses said the knife-wielding man yelled “Allahu akbar”, or “God is great”, and attempted to stab several people.

A woman’s body was found near the scene, while another woman was stabbed but is now in a stable condition in hospital, authorities said.

Police are treating the incidents as linked.

Luke O'Shaughnessy (left) and Paul O'Shaughnessy, two British brothers who have been hailed as heroes by police after they helped detain a knifeman in Sydney (Picture: PA)
Luke O'Shaughnessy (left) and Paul O'Shaughnessy, two British brothers who have been hailed as heroes by police after they helped detain a knifeman in Sydney (Picture: PA)
Screengrab taken with permission from a video issued by 7 News of a man being tackled with a milk crate and chairs by members of the public in Sydney, Australia, following a knife attack.
A man being tackled with a milk crate and chairs by members of the public in Sydney, Australia, following a knife attack (Picture: PA)
Screengrab taken with permission from a video issued by 7 News of a man being tackled with a milk crate and chairs by members of the public in Sydney, Australia, following a knife attack.
A man was apprehended by bystanders in Sydney (Picture: PA)

New South Wales Police said in a statement: “Inquiries are under way after the body of a woman was found inside a unit on Clarence Street, Sydney, about 3.15pm (0615 BST) today.

“Officers from Sydney City Police area command are on the scene and will conduct inquiries into whether the incident is linked to an earlier stabbing at a hotel on the corner of Clarence and King streets.”

Police said the suspect has a long history of mental health issues and was found with terrorist information on a USB drive.

However he has no known links to terror organisations and the incident is not being treated as terrorism.

Lee Cuthbert, Paul O’Shaughnessy and Luke O’Shaughnessy, all from Manchester, were working in the area when they heard the man attempting to stab several people outside, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Members of the public surround the man who was apprehended (Picture: PA)
Members of the public surround the man who was apprehended (Picture: PA)

Mr Cuthbert told the Australian paper: “We had a window open to get some air in and then we just heard the commotion … we looked out and saw him on top of a car, wielding a knife, and we all just kind of reacted from there.

“We just tried to get down as quick as we could. You don’t think, you just kind of react really, it was surreal, very, very surreal.

“We all kind of chased, worked together, but it was Luke who was the real hero. He pursued him the hardest and managed to get a grip of him.”

Luke O’Shaughnessy, 30, said: “We heard a massive commotion outside and I looked outside and I could hear a man chanting.

“I looked over and he jumped onto a car, and he had a knife and (was) covered in blood.

“So at that point I kind of acted on instinct.

“I shouted ‘Paul’ and said ‘Let’s go, there’s a man with a knife, it’s a terrorist attack’.”

The three friends, who all work at a recruitment agency in the city, helped tackle the man alongside an Australian colleague.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised the “brave” people who tackled the knifeman.

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He posted on Twitter: “The violent attack that took place in Sydney this afternoon is deeply concerning.

“The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and able to restrain him.

“The motivation for this attack has not yet been determined as police are continuing with their enquiries.

“Our thoughts are with all of those who have been impacted by this violent attack.”

NSW Police Superintendent Gavin Wood, speaking to reporters near the scene, said: “A number of members of the public actually physically restrained the offender.

Emergency services at a police cordon in Sydney, Australia near to the scene where a knife attacker was earlier apprehended by members of the public using chairs and a milk crate.
Emergency services at a police cordon in Sydney, Australia near to the scene where a knife attacker was earlier apprehended by members of the public using chairs and a milk crate (Picture: PA)

“And I want to acknowledge those people, those members of the public who got involved. They are brave, and I can only use that word seriously.

“They are significantly brave people. They approach the person… with clear evidence of a stabbing previously.

“These people are heroes, and I want to acknowledge that.”

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