Australian MP Helen Haines loses both legs after car attack as suspect appears in court

Helen Haines, an Australian lawmaker struck by a car in an apparently deliberate attack on Monday, has lost both of her legs, her husband said on Wednesday.

Counterterrorism investigators have joined a police probe into the incident, which occurred outside Haines' constituency office in Wangaratta, northeast of the Victorian capital, Melbourne.

A 43-year-old suspect, Brendan N. from nearby Tarrawingee, appeared in Wangaratta Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a federal official.

Haines loses both legs after apparent attack

The independent MP underwent surgery on Monday night after suffering what were described as critical injuries in the incident, with national broadcaster ABC and the daily Sydney Morning Herald reporting on Tuesday that her left leg had been amputated.

Doctors then proceeded to amputate her right leg on Wednesday after having tried to save it.

"The good news in all this is that Helen is alive and she’s stable. That is the most important thing for our family," Phil Haines told reporters in Melbourne.

"We are grateful and thankful that at this stage, both her heart and her mind are in good shape," he said.

What do we know about the suspected attack on Haines?

Haines, 65, was hit by an SUV, which police said was a white Toyota, outside her office. She suffered serious injuries, particularly to her lower body.

ABC cited witnesses as saying they heard a bang and then saw a woman pinned between two cars. Later reports from witnesses said that after first pinning Haines against her own car, the driver reversed and rammed into her a second time.

The driver was arrested shortly after, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Albanese said early investigations suggested the driver made a U-turn before hitting Haines as she was loading or unloading items at the trunk of her car.

"This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear," he told ABC.

The suspect's lawyer, Chirag Patel, told Magistrate Allison Vaughan on Wednesday that his client suffers from a rare neurological condition, as well as an undiagnosed mental health condition. He also said the defendant was suffering from a concussion.

Local barber ran to assist

Local barber Ricky Jeffries, whose shop is next to Haines' office, has been widely hailed as a hero after he ran to pull the driver out of the car and restrained him until police arrived.

Jeffries downplayed his role, despite having intervened in what could have been a highly dangerous situation, as the man had a knife in the car.

"He [the driver] did have a knife. He didn't pull it out. I just wasn't comfortable with his movements, and so I basically just took it out of his pocket and threw it away," he said.

Jefferies said he then held the man down until police arrived.

"I just leant over him and once he was on the ground and he was no longer a threat, I just stood with him and I told him that he can't leave," he said.

Jefferies told journalists his first thought had been: "My wife would be disappointed if I'm injured."

"The other people here were just, they did so much more than me ... they deserve the credit," he added.

Political violence on the rise: PM Albanese

Albanese said it was too early to speculate about the possible motive behind the suspected attack, but pointed to rising political violence.

"The temperature has increased in recent times," Albanese added, "I've expressed that concern to people in the media."

Ben Carroll, the state premier for Victoria where Wangaratta is located, said he was "appalled" by the attack, adding: "I know how devastating this will be for the Wangaratta community and all those who Helen represents."

At a separate press conference, Albanese said everyone was "praying for her full recovery."

Although it has not yet been established whether the incident was deliberate, there has been an increase in threats and harassment targeting lawmakers and other senior public officials in Australia and elsewhere in recent years.

Haines had worked as a nurse and a midwife before entering parliament in 2019. She is known for her stance on stronger climate action.