A 43 year old man, identified as Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene of the strike in Wangaratta, and a knife was discovered inside the vehicle. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the event as a targeted attack and the first political assassination attempt in Australia in three decades. A counterterrorism task force is currently investigating Nugent, who is described in investigative reports as a radical left-wing pro Palestine activist.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Australian MP Helen Haines Loses Leg in First Political Assassination Attempt in 30 Years
World23 hours ago
Surgery was performed overnight on a rural Victoria lawmaker who remains in critical condition after a white Land Rover struck her outside her office. Independent MP Helen Haines is being treated at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital and has lost a leg after being pinned between two vehicles during the encounter, according to reports from the ABC.
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