Australian Federal Police have warned that vulnerable children, some as young as 11, are being radicalised online at unprecedented speed. Acting Deputy Commissioner Sandra Booth told a parliamentary inquiry that radicalisation which once took months or years can now happen within days. Police allege a 13-year-old boy planned a school shooting and was charged after a notebook outlining the plans was found at his home. Since 2020, counter-terrorism authorities have targeted 65 children aged 12 to 17, with 35 investigations resulting in charges. The inquiry also heard that potential offenders are using AI chatbots to research and plan attacks.
Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged over an alleged deliberate attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office. Police have not ruled out further charges, including attempted murder. Haines remains in a critical but stable condition after emergency surgery. In court, Nugent's lawyer said he has a neurological condition and raised concerns about his mental health. Nugent was remanded in custody, and federal police say establishing a motive is the investigation's first priority.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after she was struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon. Politicians, health bodies and community groups have expressed shock and support. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken with her husband, Phil. Dr Haines had surgery and was airlifted to Melbourne. A man is in custody and police say the motive is unclear. Victoria Police is leading the investigation, supported by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
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Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged over an alleged deliberate attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office. Police have not ruled out further charges, including attempted murder. Haines remains in a critical but stable condition after emergency surgery. In court, Nugent's lawyer said he has a neurological condition and raised concerns about his mental health. Nugent was remanded in custody, and federal police say establishing a motive is the investigation's first priority.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical but stable condition after being struck by a white four-wheel drive near her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon. Witnesses said the vehicle rammed her twice before it made a U-turn and hit her. A local barber made a citizen's arrest of the 43-year-old driver, Brendan Nugent, and took a knife from him. Police are questioning Nugent. Dr Haines lost one leg on Tuesday as surgeons worked to save the other. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it a deliberate attack, but the motive remains unclear.
Police have identified the 43-year-old driver accused of ramming Independent MP Helen Haines with a four-wheel-drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Brendan Nugent has been in custody since his arrest on Monday. Haines was retrieving items from her car boot when the alleged attack happened at about 3.35pm. Bystanders pulled the accused man from his vehicle and detained him before authorities arrived. The Australian Federal Police say the incident appears isolated, and investigators are assessing potential charges. The motive remains unknown.
Residents of Wangaratta in regional Victoria have been left shaken after an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, who remains in critical but stable condition. A four-wheel drive reportedly struck her outside her office on Monday afternoon, then reversed and hit her again. About 200 people gathered at a vigil on Tuesday, lighting candles and praying for the 65-year-old's recovery. Reverend Clarence Bester praised her as a caring former nurse and midwife who treats everyone with dignity. Barber Ricky Jeffries, who says a driver carried a knife, stepped in to remove it and has been called a hero.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical but stable condition in Melbourne's Alfred Hospital after an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday. She has reportedly lost a leg, and surgeons are fighting to save the other. A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene and remains in custody. No charges have been laid, and police are still working to establish a motive. His family said they had been friends with Haines for more than 20 years and were devastated by the attack.
Independent federal MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition in Melbourne after being struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon. The 65-year-old Member for Indi was hit on Murphy Street and later flown to The Alfred, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said she had surgery. Police say a 43-year-old Tarrawingee man was detained by bystanders and arrested. A knife was found in the vehicle. He has not been charged and is alleged to have committed the attack. Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO are investigating through a counter-terrorism taskforce.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office. The 43-year-old suspect, detained by a local resident, is in custody as multiple agencies investigate the incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, urging respectful political discourse amid rising threats against MPs. Haines, a respected community figure, was airlifted to Melbourne for treatment following the alleged assault. The motivation behind the attack remains unclear, with authorities emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation.
Independent MP Helen Haines has lost a leg and remains in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria. Police say a 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene and could be charged with causing harm to a commonwealth public official. Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating, and it is not yet clear whether the alleged attack was politically motivated. The Australian Federal Police say the incident appears isolated and that no known threats are connected to it. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was clearly aimed at causing harm to Ms Haines.
Independent MP Helen Haines has lost a leg and remains in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria. Police say a 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene and could be charged with causing harm to a commonwealth public official. Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating, and it is not yet clear whether the alleged attack was politically motivated. The Australian Federal Police say the incident appears isolated and that no known threats are connected to it. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack was clearly aimed at causing harm to Ms Haines.
Independent MP Helen Haines was attacked outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria, on Monday afternoon. Police have a suspect in custody and are conducting a major investigation. The Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO are working together, and the Joint Counter Terrorism Team has been activated. Authorities have not yet established a motive. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with Dr Haines and wished her a full recovery.
Independent MP Helen Haines is in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday afternoon. Police have arrested a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, and a knife was found inside the vehicle. Haines was flown to the Alfred hospital in Melbourne. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Joint Counter Terrorism Team had been activated, but the motive remains unknown. Police are investigating whether the act was intentional, and they say they know of no ongoing threat.
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Independent MP Helen Haines, 65, is in hospital in a critical condition after being struck by a car outside her electoral office in Wangaratta. Police say a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee was arrested at the scene and a knife was seized from the vehicle. Police are investigating whether the incident was intentional and have said they are not aware of any prior links between the two. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll have expressed shock and wished Dr Haines a full recovery. Police say they are treating the incident as isolated.
Independent MP Helen Haines is in critical condition in hospital after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria, on Monday afternoon. Police arrested a 43-year-old male driver and seized a knife from his car. Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating, and the motive is yet to be determined. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the act appeared deliberate and that there was no place for political violence. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and others condemned the attack. Dr Haines' family asked for privacy.
Independent MP Helen Haines is in critical condition in hospital after being struck by a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria, on Monday afternoon. Police arrested a 43-year-old male driver and seized a knife from his car. Counter-terrorism authorities are investigating, and the motive is yet to be determined. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the act appeared deliberate and that there was no place for political violence. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and others condemned the attack. Dr Haines' family asked for privacy.
