Helen Haines attacker suspect named as 'local activist' who 'strayed into darker things'

Helen Haines attacker suspect named as 'local activist' who 'strayed into darker things' Helen Haines remains in a critical but stable condition as police interview a man they arrested yesterday in connection with the alleged attack in rural Victoria The man who allegedly ‘rammed’ his car into an MP in a ‘deliberate’ attack has been named for the first time. Police arrested a 43-year-old man in Australia on Monday afternoon after 65-year-old MP Helen Haines was reportedly hit by a Toyota LandCruiser 4x4 in Wangaratta, rural Victoria. Officials said it was ‘not an accident’. Home affairs minister Tony Burke added: “What witnesses have described is the driver doing a U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time.” Cops are thought to be interviewing the suspect on Tuesday morning. He has now been named by multiple news outlets as Brendan Nugent, from nearby Tarrawingee. Nugent is said to be a local activist. In the biography section of an account on social media platform X which bears his name, it said: “Plant person. The world should be run by children and dogs.” Melbourne news title The Age reported Nugent ‘strayed into “darker” things since his days protesting logging in the local forest’, according to police sources. Melbourne is where Haines remains in hospital. She is in a ‘critical but stable condition’ following emergency overnight surgery, Mr Burke also said. The incident has shocked Australia and put the spotlight on Ricky Jefferies, a barber next door to Ms Haines’ office. He has been called a ‘hero’ by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and local police chiefs have ‘personally thanked’ Jefferies for wrestling the LandCrusier driver from behind the wheel. Jefferies spoke to reporters on Tuesday morning. He said: “I heard a loud bang, it was crazy, I just ran out the front to see what was happening. I did what I could and did what others were trying to do.” He added: “The driver was still in the car, the car was still on, and… a man sat in front of the moving car. I had no choice but to take him out of the car because it was the right and safest thing to do.” Jefferies added he ‘took [a knife] out of his pocket and threw it away’. Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason has called for any witnesses to come forward to police or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.