Terrifying footage has emerged of a man moments after he allegedly went on a stabbing spree in broad daylight which left four people hospitalised.
Emergency services were called to Puckle Street at Moonee Ponds, in Melbourne’s inner north west, at 1.15pm on Wednesday after several people were attacked by an ‘agitated’ man wielding a pen.
Four people were stabbed in the alleged attack and had to be rushed to hospital.
Moments after the stabbing spree, the alleged assailant was caught on CCTV walking in a menacing manner down the street.
The man, who had a thick beard, bald head and was wearing a black tracksuit while carrying a purple draw-string bag, appeared to be carrying a sharp object in his hand.
In the footage, published by 9News, the alleged attacker appears to confront an innocent bystander who backs away from him.
A 36-year-old man was taken into custody nearby at Moonee Ponds railway station where he is assisting police with their enquiries.
The incident is not being treated as terror-related.
Priceline employee Carla Bertolini told Daily Mail Australia she was alerted to the rampage by a wounded passer-by shouting for assistance.
‘I saw an elderly man with two other people and the elderly man had blood down his neck,’ she said.
‘They were saying “is there a medic nearby, we need a doctor”.’
The man, who had a thick beard, bald head and was wearing a black tracksuit while carrying a purple draw-string bag, appeared to be carrying a sharp object in his hand (pictured)
In the footage, published by 9News, the alleged attacker appears to confront an innocent bystander who backs away from him (pictured)
In a stroke of luck, the Priceline, which is situated just next to the bargain store where the pen-slashing onslaught began, has its own medical centre.
Ms Bertolini said the terrified witnesses told her a man had stabbed at least two people outside of the shop.
The brave shop attendant proceeded to go outside where she was confronted by wild scenes.
‘I walked down to the Amazing Bargains shop and I saw the owner of the shop had a bag of peas held to her neck and I saw blood on her hands,’ she said.
A man has been arrested (pictured) after four people were stabbed in Moonee Ponds, in Melbourne’s inner northwest, on Wednesday afternoon
Priceline employee Carla Bertolini (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia she had been told the man had tried to shoplift before starting his horrifying pen-wielding rampage
‘I thought “oh my God are you okay”. She said the man stabbed her and I told her to come with me and I’d take her to the medical centre.’
Ms Bertolini said the woman claimed she had been stabbed by a man wielding a pen.
‘A witness told me the man went into the lady’s shop and tried shoplifting and the lady tried to stop him and he punched her and stabbed her with a pen in her neck,’ she said.
‘He was obviously agitated the lady tried to stop him and the other man was either in or out of the shop and the man stabbed him in the neck as-well.’
Two of the victims were rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital while the other two were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where they have been treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Emergency services were called to Puckle Street (pictured) at 1.15pm. Pictured are detectives at the scene
A spokesperson for Victoria Police said they had been responded to reports of ‘an agitated man who appeared to have assaulted people’ on Puckle Street.
‘Local police and detectives responded swiftly arresting the 36-year-old man, who was armed with a sharp implement, near the railway station,’ they added.
‘The four victims, two males and two females ranging in age from 30s to 80s, have been taken to hospital for treatment to what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
‘At this stage the incident appears to have been random in nature and not terror related.’
Mayor of Moonee Valley Pierce Tyson said the incident was ‘particularly confronting and disturbing’.
‘Moonee Valley is shocked to hear of such a violent attack happening in our part of the world,’ said Mayor Tyson.
He added: ‘I would like thank our emergency services for their swift action in responding to the incident, and offer my thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery to injured locals.’
The attack sparked traffic delays for several hours as detectives swiftly shut down Puckle Street and surrounding streets as they worked the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.