An anti-Israel activist and radical environmentalist who beforehand supported Helen Haines has been recognized as the person accused of intentionally driving a Toyota LandCruiser into the federal MP outdoors her workplace in regional Victoria, in an assault that resulted within the lack of considered one of her legs.
Brendan Nugent, 43, stays in police custody, with detectives anticipated to formally interview him right this moment.
He has a historical past of activism within the space, however somebody who knew him stated he had ventured into ‘darker’ territory since his involvement in native forest logging protests.
In a twist, Haines adopted an X account below Nugent’s identify that describes him as a ‘plant particular person’ and ‘pro-Gaza’ and states that ‘the world needs to be run by canines and kids’.
He’s additionally believed to have straight supported Haines throughout her 2019 federal election marketing campaign, sharing an image of anti-Impartial marketing campaign materials that he criticised.
‘1st wave of LNP funded anti-independent propaganda hit #indivotes right this moment, it has been tailor-made particularly for the #Indi voters,’ Nugent wrote, tagging Haines within the submit.
‘Amazingly the LNP solely invented 6 ew ‘taxes’ that do not exist, why not go for 10?’
The account additionally interacted with Haines on a number of different events, most not too long ago six years in the past, when it praised her stance on climate change in a reply to the MP after she promoted an episode of the ABC panel present Q+A.
Federal MP Helen Haines has misplaced a leg and stays in a essential situation after an alleged deliberate assault outdoors her Wangaratta voters workplace
Brendan Nugent, 43, from close by Tarrawingee, stays in police custody over the incident. No expenses had been laid as of Tuesday morning
‘Would’ve been good to incorporate a politician who takes local weather change significantly, similar to your self,’ the account wrote.
In different posts he additionally complained about being ‘broke’ and in ‘power ache’.
The account additionally options posts about Israel‘s struggle in Gaza, environmental points and, simply days in the past, a ‘satanic youngster sexual abuse materials community’.
He additionally posted a photograph in 2018 of a 1997 Toyota LandCruiser bearing the identical quantity plate because the car allegedly utilized in Monday’s incident.
Different posts criticised the federal government’s response to the Israel-Gaza battle, together with one calling Anthony Albanese and Overseas Minister Penny Wong ‘a few US lap canines’.
‘Couple of US lap canines. Perhaps for those who had warned israel about its assaults the world would not be the place it’s proper now,’ the account wrote.
A number of different posts criticised Israel and US assist for its navy marketing campaign.
‘The Biden administration’s ‘no daylight’, unconditional assist for Israel has supplied a lot leeway that Tel Aviv has no manner of climbing down from its acknowledged struggle targets, regardless of having achieved none,’ one submit learn.
Nugent has a historical past of environmental activism, however somebody who knew him stated he had ventured into ‘darker territory’ since collaborating in native logging protests
Haines adopted an X account below Nugent’s identify that describes him as a ‘plant particular person’ and ‘pro-Gaza’ that is essential of the federal government’s response to Israel
{A photograph} uploaded to the account in 2018 exhibits a Toyota LandCruiser bearing the identical quantity plate because the car allegedly utilized in Monday’s assault
The account additionally sought donations for folks in Gaza.
In one other submit, it described former feminine US secretaries of state as ‘mass murderers of harmless civilians’.
The account replied to Senator Wong’s assertion on the killing of Australian support employee Zomi Frankcom, who died after an Israel Protection Forces drone struck the help convoy carrying her in April 2024.
‘What an insult to this womans life’, the account wrote.
‘Assist the kids of Gaza,’ it acknowledged in a submit on August 25, 2024.
In his final submit on October 18, he pointed to studies alleging ‘sexual abuse, together with rape’ of prisoners ‘throughout processing and detention by Israeli forces’.
He additionally spoke out over environmental points like local weather change and forestry, and towards the Victorian authorities over logging initiatives.
His posts additionally coated acquainted conspiracy themes, together with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Charlie Kirk’s loss of life and political management.
Anthony Albanese stated there had been a regarding rise in folks threatening politicians
Police and counter-terrorism authorities are anticipated to look at his social media exercise as a part of their inquiries.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE ATTACK ON HAINES?
The unbiased MP for Indi misplaced a leg and stays in a essential situation after present process emergency surgical procedure in Melbourne in a single day.
Haines was retrieving belongings from the boot of her automotive, parked on Murphy Road, when she was repeatedly struck.
Witnesses stated the driving force made a U-turn and smashed the car into her.
‘What witnesses have described is the driving force doing a U-turn to get into the automotive park and to ram Helen towards a car, then to reverse and do it a second time,’ Residence Affairs Minister Tony Burke informed ABC Radio on Tuesday.
The mother-of-three and grandmother was pinned by the four-wheel-drive and suffered ‘extreme’ lower-body accidents.
She was initially handled at an area hospital earlier than being airlifted about 250km to Melbourne.
Nugent, from Tarrawingee, close to Wangaratta, was arrested on the scene and brought into custody.
Helen Haines and her husband Phil
It comes as particulars emerge concerning the hero barber who dragged Nugent from his LandCruiser, kicked away a flick knife and pinned him to the bottom, after he allegedly drove into Haines.
Ricky Jefferies rushed to assist after the politician was focused outdoors his Wangaratta barber store, subsequent door to Haines’s voters workplace.
Mr Jefferies pulled Haines from the car and wrestled him to the bottom.
‘It occurred straight out the entrance of my store,’ he stated. ‘I pulled the person out of the white Landcruiser.’
Mr Jefferies then allegedly discovered a flick knife within the man’s pocket, kicked it away and restrained him till police arrived.
‘Once I pulled him out from the car I searched him and located a knife in his pocket,’ he stated.
‘I had him sit on the bottom and police acquired there inside minutes.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Mr Jefferies on Tuesday, describing him as a hero whose intervention might have prevented additional accidents.
A person wore a ‘this isn’t us’ shirt following the assault on Helen Haines outdoors her voters workplace
One other particular person left a heartfelt observe and a bunch of flowers on the door of the politician’s offic
‘It is acquired to be stated right here that at this darkish and horrible time, a component of sunshine is the truth that a Good Samaritan, somebody rushed to Helen’s defence in Wangaratta … and that particular person is a hero right this moment,’ he informed 9.
‘And I simply suppose that he deserves monumental reward and thanks for his intervention, which might have prevented much more additional infliction of harm, which was geared toward Helen.’
Albanese stated it was clear it was a deliberate assault.
‘It might seem that the driving force of the car that inflicted the injury to Helen Haines did a u-turn as a way to get again to the place Helen Haines was after passing the place she was getting issues from the boot or placing issues into the boot of her automotive,’ he stated.
‘So it is clear that there was a deliberate act right here. This wasn’t an accident, somebody simply skidding off the highway right here.’
Albanese stated the motive remained unclear, however stated there had been a major enhance within the variety of folks charged with threatening politicians.
‘It is essential in a democracy that persons are allowed to have disagreements. However that does not imply that it’s important to draw into query folks’s motivations or their patriotism or who they’re,’ Albanese stated.
‘We have seen, I feel, political discourse go within the fallacious course in current instances and I need us to acknowledge in the way in which that politics is carried out.’
Haines is broadly recognized in Canberra and nationally as a robust voice for integrity and honesty in politics.
She performed a key position in establishing the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Fee and has been a distinguished advocate for rural points, particularly healthcare.
Her different priorities have included stronger local weather motion, cheaper dwelling batteries and regional housing.
She has urged Australia to impose sanctions on Israel and put better stress on the Netanyahu authorities to finish the battle, whereas calling for a direct and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and pressing humanitarian support.
She labored as a nurse, midwife and rural well being researcher earlier than coming into politics.
Haines’ household launched a press release, asking Australians to consider Helen.
‘We thank the swift help of bystanders and the devoted well being staff who assisted her, and police for his or her response,’ Haines’ household stated.
‘Our household, and Helen’s employees, will likely be making no additional remark right now, and ask that their privateness be revered by the general public and media. Please maintain Helen in your ideas.’
