A 35-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly stabbed a primary school groundskeeper in Sydney earlier this morning.
A 61-year-old maintenance worker at Punkett Street Public School in Woolloomooloo was stabbed in the arm at about 7 am, after attempting to prevent a 35-year-old man from wandering the school grounds.
There were no children at the school at the time.
NSW Police Acting Superintendent Chris Nicholson said the incident at this stage appears to be random.
“There was naturally no threat to any child or children at the school,” Nicholson said.
“I think this was a random coincidence in terms of the location at the school.”
Nicholson said the offender is a known man to NSW Police.
“I do not believe the incident was targeted to the school itself,” he said.
Police said a 58-year-old employee of the school moved quickly to interrupt the attack and perform initial first aid on the groundskeeper’s wound.
The offender fled the scene and was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station a short time later for questioning.
The injured man was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Police have commended the swift actions of the Punkett Street Public School employees.
“The acts of the staff at the school, and the employee who came to render aid to the 61-year-old-man were nothing short of brave and compassionate.”
Investigations are ongoing.
