# Australian MP critically hurt in car attack

> Australian lawmaker Helen Haines critically injured in deliberate car attack near Melbourne office.
- Title: Australian MP critically hurt in car attack · euronews
- Summary: Australian lawmaker Helen Haines critically injured in deliberate car attack near Melbourne office. Australian independent MP Helen Haines suffered critical…
- Keywords: breaking, australian, helen haines, prime minister anthony albane, car attack, wangaratta, victoria police, counter-terrorism squad, critical injuries, news, world, politics
- Source: euronews — https://euronews.com/2026/10/19/australian-mp-helen-haines-critically-hurt-in-car-ramming-attack-officials-say
- Author: Gavin Blackburn
- Published: 2026-10-19T09:42:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, australian, helen haines, prime minister anthony albane, car attack, wangaratta, victoria police, counter-terrorism squad, critical injuries, news, world, politics
## Helen Haines injured
Australian independent lawmaker Helen Haines suffered critical injuries after being deliberately rammed by a car outside her Wangaratta office.

> This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act
## Prime Minister responds
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident a deliberate attack and expressed condolences for Haines and her family.

> All of our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her friends, her team, and her community at this extremely difficult time
## Attacker detained
The 43-year-old male driver was detained by civilians and arrested by police after police found a knife in his car.
## Motive unknown
Albanese stated the attacker's motive remained unknown with Australia's counter-terrorism squad activated.
## Key takeaway

Australian independent MP Helen Haines suffered critical injuries after being deliberately rammed by a car in Wangaratta, with Prime Minister Albanese calling it an attack and Australia's counter-terrorism squad activated.