Man on the Run After Targeted Stabbings and Car Crash in Melbourne

A man is on the run after crashing a car into a house in Melbourne's east and allegedly stabbing a woman in what police believe was a targeted attack. Police said the man had also allegedly stabbed a person at a different property in Melbourne's north several hours before the second incident. Victoria Police said a silver Honda CRV, believed to be stolen, was deliberately crashed into a property in Exner Street, Dandenong North, about 10:15am. The male driver got out of the vehicle and stabbed the female occupant of the house, who police said was known to the man. The woman, aged in her 30s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries to her upper body and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. Police said the man had earlier stabbed another man at a property in Bradman Terrace, Epping, about 7:15am. Police said the victim at Epping, a 40-year-old man who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was also known to the man. The alleged offender fled the scene on foot after the incident at Dandenong North and is yet to be caught. Inspector Graham Higginbotham said the police airwing, dog squad and extra patrols had been brought in to help search for the man, who he described as African in appearance with "afro-type" hair, and wearing a brown or dark-coloured top and black pants. "Police are conducting extensive inquiries," he said. "There's a fully active and ongoing investigation to try and locate this person. "At this stage we don't believe there's a specific risk to anyone else in the community … these appear to be instances against persons known to this person, so we're not saying there's potential for random attacks out there, but we just ask people to be careful and cautious and to contact police if they do see anyone matching that description." Dandenong North neighbour Kiki Muscara said she believed she had seen the wanted man walking down the street after the attack. "It was so blasé. He just walked down the street and then he just disappeared," she said. She said her and her husband had not initially understood the seriousness of what was happening.