New Zealand: Axe-wielding man attacked diners at Chinese restaurants, 4 injured

A man armed with an axe attacked random diners at three neighbouring Chinese restaurants in New Zealand, wounding four people, police and witnesses said.

The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m. on Monday in the Albany suburb of north Auckland.

Police swiftly responded to the situation and apprehended a 24-year-old suspect at the scene. He has been formally charged with wounding, indicating an intention to cause serious harm.

The suspect, identified as a Chinese national, made a brief court appearance on Tuesday. While the police have yet to determine a motive for the attack, they have stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting a racially motivated crime.

Auckland City Hospital said Tuesday one patient from the attack remained there in stable condition. North Shore Hospital said it had one patient with moderate injuries and a second with minor injuries, both of whom were in stable condition, and had earlier discharged a third patient.

A diner told the New Zealand Herald newspaper he was eating dinner with a friend when the man walked in and started attacking his friend, who was seriously injured.

“I was in shock. When I realized what was happening, he tried to target me,” the man, who asked not to be named, told the Herald. “I blocked his axe with my hand. He was also trying to target my head, so I blocked the axe with my hand.”

The diner said the man with the axe chased them out of the restaurant and then turned around and walked into another restaurant.

The Herald posted an image of what appeared to be a wood-splitter-style of axe lying on the sidewalk.

Surveillance footage posted by the news website Stuff showed people fleeing from one of the restaurants, including one person who ran out backwards holding a chair as a barricade followed closely by another person holding a weapon.

Police said they expect to file more charges against the man, who they believe acted alone. Police increased their presence in the area around the restaurants Tuesday.

“We acknowledge how frightening this incident was for those involved, and for the wider community, and we are ensuring there is support in place for both the victims and their friends and family,” Inspector Stefan Sagar said in a statement.

During his court appearance, the defendant was helped by a Chinese-language interpreter. He was not required to enter a plea. He was granted temporary name suppression, a common outcome in New Zealand’s legal system.

The restaurants the man entered were Yues Dumpling Kitchen, Zhangliang Malatang and Maya Hotpot. They are among a cluster of restaurants on the street that aim to give diners low-cost options reminiscent of Chinese street food offerings.

With inputs from agencies

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