Victoria Police say a man in his 50s fled on foot after allegedly attacking three people at a property in Tyers.
TYERS, Australia — A large-scale manhunt was underway Saturday in southeastern Australia for a man accused of attacking three people, including an elderly couple, with what police believe was an axe before fleeing a rural property on foot.
Victoria Police said the alleged attack happened about 12:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at an address on Cowies Road in Tyers, a small town in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Police said the man, who is known to the victims, allegedly assaulted an elderly man and woman along with another adult man at the property.
The alleged attacker fled before emergency crews arrived, authorities said. Despite their injuries, the victims were able to contact emergency services for help. The elderly man and the other male victim were taken to Melbourne hospitals with life-threatening injuries. Police initially described the elderly woman’s injuries as critical and said she had also been taken to a hospital.
Later reporting said a man in his 70s and another man in his 40s remained in critical condition, while a woman in her 70s was listed in serious but stable condition. Authorities had not publicly identified any of the victims as of the latest reports reviewed Saturday.
Police launched an extensive search of the Tyers area after investigators determined the alleged attacker had apparently left the property on foot. Officers described the man as being in his 50s. He was last seen wearing a black-and-mustard-colored jacket and carrying a black backpack.
Authorities warned that the man may still be armed with an axe and a handsaw. Police urged anyone who sees a person matching the description not to approach him and instead immediately contact emergency services. Investigators also appealed for witnesses and people with CCTV or dashcam footage from the area to provide information to police.
Police have not publicly released the suspect’s name or a photograph in the official statement reviewed. They also have not disclosed the exact relationship between the man and the three victims beyond saying that he was known to them. No motive for the alleged attack has been announced.
The incident prompted a significant police response in and around Tyers as officers searched roads, properties and surrounding areas. The town is in Victoria’s Gippsland region, east of Melbourne. Residents were urged to remain alert while the search continued.
Victoria Police described the incident as a serious assault and said the investigation remained active. Because no arrest had been announced, the allegations against the unidentified man had not been tested in court, and investigators were still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
As of the latest official update reviewed Saturday, police had not announced that the man had been located or arrested. Authorities continued searching the area while the three injured victims received hospital treatment.