NSW Police have charged Mert Ney, the knife man who killed one victim and injured another in a stabbing spree in Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday (13th August, 2019). He has been charged with murder, attempted murder, wounded person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, intentionally choke person with recklessness, and common assault. He was also presented before Parramatta Bail Court today, bail was not applied for and was formally refused. His lawyer, outside court, told the media that Ney will be defending the charges on the basis of his ‘mental illness’.
Mr. Ney allegedly killed Michaela Dunn, 24, in a Clarence Street apartment and stabbed Linda Bo, 41, in the shoulder at the Hotel CBD. Video footage shows him running through city streets, smeared in life, and brandishing a knife. He is also heard shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’, as he jumps on top of a car. He is restrained by the public and later handed to the police.
Ney was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment but was released and transferred to Surry Hills Police Station for questioning just after midday on Friday.
Investigations after the incident revealed police were looking for Ney since the past week after a confrontation with his family in their Marayong home. The police arrived at the house to reports of a disturbance, but Ney had already fled his home. Ney lived in a emergency accommodation at a community house in Blacktown for the next week.
Ney’s family members and mates have suggested that Ney was mentally disturbed, he made several visits to Blacktown Hospital and was on medication.
A family member also said he ‘was domestically violent in the lead-up to the incident. Ney’s neighbours in the emergency accommodation said he was ‘agitated’ and ‘scary’ and heard him discussing terrorism on his phone. Several people noticing him the past week also said he constantly uttered the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’, as if obsessed with the term. Police also said Ney was carrying a USB stick with information about recent mass casualties in New Zealand and the United States.
NSW Police could not find any links to terrorist organisations, and have not classed the incident as a ‘terrorist attack’.
