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AAP
AAP
National
Savannah Meacham, Emily Verdouw and Fraser Barton

Teen remains in custody after supermarket stabbing

A Coles worker was allegedly stabbed in the back by a boy in a busy shopping centre. (Savannah Meacham/AAP PHOTOS)

A 13-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after the alleged stabbing of a Coles employee. 

Police allege the teenager approached the 63-year-old woman while she was working at the supermarket in Ipswich's Yamanto Shopping Centre, southwest of Brisbane, and stabbed her in the back with a knife.

Say Sushi worker Dshering Dema was working across from the supermarket on Monday afternoon when she heard screaming and saw people running out of the store.

She went to see what the commotion was about and saw the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pooling around her.

"It was very scary, I came back and was shaking," she told AAP.

The boy tried to flee but shoppers and security staff restrained him until police arrived.

The injured woman was treated by police before being transported by paramedics to Princess Alexander Hospital, where she remains in a critical but stable condition. 

The teenager was charged overnight and his matter was mentioned in Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday.

The boy did not appear in person and duty lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment for a brief of evidence to be prepared.

the Ipswich Courthouse
The teenager's case was mentioned in the Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday. (Savannah Meacham/AAP PHOTOS)

The teen was remanded in custody to face court again on February 25.

Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the violent attack.

"This is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent, 63-year-old woman who is going about her daily employment at that shopping centre and it shouldn't happen in society," he said.

Police confirmed the alleged attack was random and they believe the boy acted alone. 

Detectives are investigating how he obtained the knife, with recent legislation known as "Jack's Law" restricting their sales in Queensland. 

Ms Dema said the incident has made her concerned about coming to work.

"I now feel very unsafe here," she said.

Police have assured the community there would be extra high-visibility patrols at Yamanto Central.

Coles in Yamanto Central shopping centre
A spokesperson said Coles was committed to supporting the injured worker and her colleagues. (Savannah Meacham/AAP PHOTOS)

A Coles spokesperson expressed their support for the injured worker and praised those who intervened.

"Our thoughts are with our store team member and their family ... we are committed to providing them with support, as well as their colleagues who are being offered counselling during this difficult time," the statement read.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also condemned the incident, calling it traumatic and reflective of a broader issue the state is grappling with.

"What has unfolded is something that no Queenslander wants to see," he said.

"There's a sense of deja-vu for the state and is exactly the kinds of incidents that Queenslanders have had enough of."

The premier flagged further changes to youth justice legislation, following the "adult crime, adult time" laws passed in December which did not include harsher sentences for attempted murder.

"I've already indicated that we are putting together an expert panel to do future changes," he said. 

A fiile photo of Premier David Crisafulli
Premier David Crisafulli slammed the attack and promised to make further changes to Queensland laws. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Opposition Leader Steven Miles sent his condolences to the family of the worker who was "senselessly attacked".

The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teen boy in the carpark of a shopping centre.

Ms White's daughter Cindy Micallef said she felt a sense of history repeating as she is about to mark the first anniversary of her mum's death.

"It's absolutely awful. This is very surreal ... it's like deja-vu. How can this be happening again?" she told Nine Network's Today Show.

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