Global Courant
Four people have been hospitalized in New Zealand after a man armed with an ax began randomly attacking diners at three neighboring Chinese restaurants, police and witnesses said
By means ofNICK PERRY Associate Press
Police cordon off a restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, following an ax attack late Monday. Several people have been hospitalized after a man armed with an ax began randomly attacking diners at three neighboring Chinese restaurants, police and witnesses said. (Hayden Woodward/New Zealand Herald via AP)
The associated press
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — In New Zealand, four people have been hospitalized after a man armed with an ax began randomly attacking diners at three neighboring Chinese restaurants, police and witnesses said.
Police said the man started the attack at about 9pm Monday in Albany, a northern Auckland suburb. They said they arrested a 24-year-old suspect at the scene and charged him with wounding and intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police did not immediately give a motive for the attack.
Auckland City Hospital said on Tuesday a patient from the attack there remained in a stable condition. North Shore Hospital said it had a patient with moderate injuries and a second with minor injuries, both of whom were in stable condition, and had previously discharged a third patient.
A restaurateur told the New Zealand Herald newspaper that he was eating dinner with a friend when the man came in and began attacking his friend, who was seriously injured.
“I was in shock. When I realized what was happening, he tried to target me,” the man, who declined to be named, told the Herald. “I blocked his ax with my hand. He also tried to aim my head, so I blocked the ax with my hand.”
The restaurant said the man with the ax chased them out of the restaurant and then turned and walked into another restaurant.
The Herald posted an image of what appeared to be a wood splitter-style ax lying on the sidewalk.
Acting Detective Inspector Timothy Williams said they were not looking for anyone else in the incident, meaning they believe the man acted alone. Williams said police expect to bring more charges.
The suspect was due to appear in court for the first time on Tuesday.
The restaurants the man entered were Yues Dumpling Kitchen, Zhangliang Malatang and Maya Hotpot. They belong to a cluster of street restaurants that aim to provide diners with inexpensive options reminiscent of Chinese street food offerings.
