A man has been arrested after an on-duty paramedic was allegedly stabbed in the face and neck while on a coffee break with his colleagues in Melbourne's north. The specialist MICA paramedic was at a café in Reservoir when he was approached from behind and stabbed twice just after 11am on Thursday, according to police.
Details of the Incident
Police said the alleged offender exited a small, red car, stabbed the paramedic, and then fled in the same vehicle. The paramedic received treatment from his colleagues at the café before being transported to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries. A 32-year-old man was arrested at a property in Winter Crescent, Reservoir, shortly before 1pm and remains in custody. He is expected to be charged within the next 24 hours.
Political Reaction
Shadow Minister for Ambulance Services, Georgie Crozier, condemned the unprovoked attack as 'horrific', emphasizing that no frontline worker should ever face such danger. 'This is a horrific attack and my thoughts are with the paramedic and their family,' she told reporters on Thursday. 'This level of violence shows how dangerous our streets have become and how crime is rampant in Victoria. No one, let alone a frontline health worker, should face this kind of violence. We need tougher penalties for anyone who attacks paramedics and other health care workers. They protect us, the law should protect them.'
Existing Laws and Criticism
Laws introduced in 2018 already mandate jail terms for attacks on paramedics, police, nurses, doctors, firefighters and other frontline responders. Statutory minimum sentences for injuring emergency workers have also been in place since 2014. However, many offenders are still avoiding prison time by using mental health claims in court. The latest attack has sparked outrage among Victorians, who express frustration with the state's crime wave. 'No bail. Throw the book at them. Disgusting,' one person wrote online. Another commented, 'Let's get the bingo card out and cross off the following: Was already out on bail and known to police; Will get bail by the end of the business day, if they haven't already got it.'
Appeal for Information
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage, or has information about the attack is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
