A man who allegedly rammed his car into Australian lawmaker Helen Haines outside her electoral office appeared in court on Wednesday, media reported, as police briefed parliamentarians on their security amid a rise in threats.
Australian media widely reported the alleged attacker as Brendan Nugent, a resident of the rural town of Tarrawingee and part of Haines’ electorate, though police have not formally named him. The alleged attacker was restrained by members of the public at the scene before being arrested and charged on Tuesday with three offences of dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury, and causing harm to a public official. During a brief court appearance on Wednesday, the accused’s lawyer said his client suffers from a rare neurological condition called idiopathic transverse myelitis and was also being treated for concussion, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Anti-terrorism police are among the agencies investigating the incident.
” they believe it was an isolated incident While police allege the attack was “targeted. There was no intelligence to suggest any threat to Haines, and the Australian Federal Police received no warning of any imminent danger from the alleged attacker, Commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters. Victoria state police said they could not find any direct past contact between Haines and the accused, with the motive still unknown.
