Woman arrested after double stabbing near Auckland Town Hall graduation event

3:31 pm on 25 August 2022

Two members of the public have been injured in a stabbing near a graduation ceremony in Auckland.

The Auckland Town Hall on 25 August, 2022.

Auckland Town Hall. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell

The police said a woman was arrested after the unprovoked attack near the Auckland Town Hall shortly before 3pm on Wednesday.

Superintendent Karyn Malthus said one person was superficially injured, and a second member of the public was hurt, also superficially, while trying to intervene.

A third person restrained the woman until police arrived.

Malthus said a 38-year-old woman was facing a number of charges over the incident, including injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent, and assault.

She was due to appear in the Auckland District Court today.

The stabbing was an unprovoked and isolated incident, Malthus said, and she acknowledged the bravery of those who had restrained the attacker.

Police were ensuring support was in place for those involved and were also providing reassurance to the institue whose graduation was taking place around the time of the incident, she added.