Father of Helen Haines Attack Suspect Says MP Was Family Friend

Australian lawmaker Helen Haines was critically injured in a vehicle attack that anti-terror police are investigating, according to Reuters. The father of the suspect has said the politician had been a friend of his family for many years, the BBC reported.

Haines underwent surgery at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne on the night before the update, the BBC reported. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had earlier described her condition as critical but stable, according to the BBC.

Local outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation have reported that the MP lost one of her legs, the BBC said. Reuters also reported that she lost a leg.

Albanese has said the incident was "no accident," NPR reported. The Guardian described a chaotic few minutes in the community as residents tried to make sense of what had happened to a well-liked local representative.

The attack has shaken the community Haines represents and drawn national attention, with the case now in the hands of anti-terror investigators. Further details on the suspect and the circumstances of the incident have not been confirmed in the reporting summarized here.

Watch for updates from the Alfred Hospital on Haines's condition and for statements from police about the investigation.