Image: Paul Miller, AAP
by GRACE JOHNSON
Police have arrested and charged a man for an alleged string of assaults in Sydney’s inner west this past weekend.
Just before midday on Friday, police were called to a venue on Phillip Street, Redfern, following reports of an assault.
Police were told a 56-year-old man was assaulted, with the perpetrator fleeing the scene.
Before 11pm the same day, emergency services were called to the intersection of Walker Street and James Street, Redfern, where they found a 38-year-old taxi driver with injuries to his chest and hand.
The man allegedly opened the front passenger door of the taxi and leaned inside, stabbing the driver before running away.
The taxi driver was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in a stable condition.
Shortly after, just after midnight, police were called to Morehead Street, Redfern, responding to reports a food delivery driver had been stabbed in the back.
The 25-year-old driver was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he was treated and kept in a stable condition.
Detective acting Superintendent Dean Johnstone said, “It is believed the person involved in these stabbings is the same person.”
But there is no known link between either the drivers or the man who attacked them. The motive for the string of attacks also remains unknown.
“It is very terrifying and it’s very concerning to us,” he said.
“These two gentlemen were actually performing work-related functions at the time of these attacks. These are two members of our community who have gone out there and are doing their job,” Johnstone said.
Following inquiries and an appeal for information, a 25-year-old man was arrested on Walker Street, Redfern, just before 2pm on Saturday.
The man was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with five counts of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of custody of a knife in a public place, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, possessing a prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
