Australian lawmaker Helen Haines remained in critical condition after surgery, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday, as police investigated a vehicle strike he described as deliberate.
Haines was taken to a hospital in Melbourne after the collision. Albanese said he called her husband, Phil, on Monday night to offer his support.
Albanese said eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle made a U-turn while Haines was getting something from the trunk of her car. He said that account led him to believe the car was aimed at her. The motive remained unclear, he said.
One person was in custody, Albanese said. Victoria Police is leading a joint counterterrorism task force with the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Asked about the detained person's political views, Albanese declined to speculate. He urged a less personal tone in politics while saying lawmakers should remain accessible to people in their communities.
At the time of the interview, Albanese said he expected another briefing from investigators later Tuesday morning. He said police would decide when to release further details.
