A Service NSW worker has been left in a critical condition in intensive care after being stabbed at work in an attack the premier described as horrifying.
The 55-year-old male worker was allegedly stabbed in the lower back, chest and shoulder at a service centre in Haymarket shortly after 9am.
A 37-year-old man was arrested and is expected to be charged later on Friday.
New South Wales police Det Supt Martin Fileman said the alleged offender – who was “extremely well known to police” – walked into the building and briefly spoke with the worker before attacking him with a knife.
“The 37-year-old male was arrested by police at the scene and was taken to the Day Street police station where he underwent a medical assessment,” he said.
The victim was helped by police until paramedics arrived and took him to hospital in a critical but stable condition.
After being operated on, he remained in a critical condition in the ICU at St Vincent’s Hospital on Friday afternoon.
The NSW Department of Customer Service secretary, Emma Hogan, fought back tears as she thanked witnesses to the attack for helping police with the investigation.
“Our frontline staff come to work every day to help out customers and those same staff deserve to go home safely,” she said outside the Day Street police station.
“The safety and welfare of our teams is the most important thing to us and we are all devastated by this morning’s event.”
All Service NSW workers were being offered assistance.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, also thanked first responders.
“The stabbing of a Service NSW worker today in Sydney is horrifying,” he said.
“To all the staff at Service NSW and those first responders on the scene – thank you.”
The attack comes just weeks after 29-year-old NSW paramedic Steven Tougher was stabbed and killed outside a McDonald’s in Sydney’s south-west while on duty.
