Woolworths staff member stabbed inside supermarket
A staff member has been stabbed inside a Woolworths supermarket in northeast Perth.
At around 12.55pm on Tuesday, Western Australia Police received a report of a person receiving an injury consistent with a stab wound inside the Ellenbrook Central shopping precinct.
Police were told the victim was a staff member.
The staff member was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in an ambulance WA Today reported.
"At this time police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident," WA Police said.
"Police would like to hear from anyone who saw a woman running from the store, or who has mobile phone vision of the woman."
A woman has been taken into custody in relation to this incident, police said in a later statement.
Woolworths worker stacking shelves at time of"random" attack
At a press conference later this afternoon, Detective Sergeant Tania Mackenzie said the victim, aged in her 40s was stabbed in her hip with a large knife.
At the time of the incident, she was stacking shelves inside the supermarket when she was approached by the alleged attacker, who is aged in her 30s.
The staff member and the alleged attacker were not known to each other and Det Mackenzie said the incident was "completely random". There was no one else in the aisle at the time of the attack.
"There is no history there, there's no relationship there. There's nothing connecting those people whatsoever," she said.
At first, the victim thought she had just been hit by a trolley or something, Det Mackenzie added.
"It's something I've never heard of happening before in my career," Det Mackenzie said.
"So it's just someone going about their day-to-day work, essentially just stacking shelves in the shopping centre, there's been no one else in the aisle and she has been approached by the suspect who has stabbed with a filleting knife."
After she was stabbed, the Woolworths worker yelled out for help and a nurse who was nearby was able to assist.
Police are yet to interview the victim who is undergoing a medical assessment.
The suspect was arrested at her home just hours after the incident. Police believe the woman in custody is the sole suspect in the attack.
The knife used in the attack was around 40cm long and was purchased this morning at another store.
Woolworths to offer support to staff
Yahoo News Australia understands the Woolworths at Ellenbrook Central remains open, but police have cordoned off the area where the incident happened.
"We're providing every support to the team member and their loved ones at this time," a Woolworths spokesperson said in a statement to Yahoo News Australia.
"We'll also be offering counselling to other team members and we'll be assisting police as required."
WA Police do not believe anyone else witnessed the attack, however, if someone did, they are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the incident online.
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