Christchurch Police respond to abduction and stabbing incident

Christchurch Police are investigating the circumstances leading to an incident this morning where a man was shot by Police after allegedly abducting a truck driver and stabbing two people.

One stab victim has serious injuries and is in a stable condition at Christchurch Hospital. A second victim has a stab wound to the shoulder and is being treated at hospital.

The man shot by Police, a 27-year-old Christchurch man, is receiving treatment in hospital for injuries which are described as not life-threatening.

The incident is believed to have started with reports of a man found in the grounds of Redwood School, who confronted the caretaker and another teacher with a knife.

The caretaker and teacher locked themselves in a classroom and the man attempted to gain entry. Police were called just after 7:00am and cordoned off the school but the man had made off on foot.

It is believed he then stopped a delivery truck in the vicinity of the school and forced the female driver to drive him towards Hoon Hay.

At 8:05am Police received reports of an incident involving the man at the corner of Halswell and Hoon Hay Roads.

It is reported that the female truck driver was stabbed by the man, who then got out of the truck and began aggressively confronting other motorists and passers-by with a knife.

He has attacked a male Christchurch City Council employee who suffered multiple stab wounds. Other passers-by have also attempted to intervene.

Police arriving at the scene attempted to restrain the man. Officers tasered the man and deployed pepper spray but this was not successful in stopping the man.

After the man rushed at police with the knife officers armed with a Glock pistol fired two shots, hitting the man in the arm and shoulder. The man was treated at the scene by ambulance officers before being admitted to hospital.

The scene at the intersection of Hoon Hay and Halswell Roads has been cordoned off and is likely to remain closed for much of the day.

The City Council employee is reported to be in a serious but stable condition, while the female truck driver has been treated and is likely to be discharged later today.

Assistant Commissioner Dave Cliff says wide ranging investigations are now under way and Police are appealing to the public for information that will help to complete the picture of what has occurred.

"The incident occurred at a busy intersection in peak time, and was seen by a number of people," he says. "A number of witnesses have already come forward and provided valuable information - but we would like to hear from anyone who has seen what has occurred.

"A number of people contributed at the scene, including a woman passer-by we have identified, who was frantically attempting to wave down other motorists to get assistance for the man who was stabbed. We applaud the actions of these people.

"A criminal investigation is under way, as is an internal investigation into the shooting. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has also been informed and will conduct its own enquiries.

"Those investigations will go into the circumstances of these events more fully, but at this stage all the information available to me indicates that the Police officers involved have acted correctly and courageously in an extremely dangerous situation.

"An important factor in the rapid response and resolution of this incident was having staff who were immediately available to attend, equipped with tasers and firearms - as a result of the Commissioner's decision to make to the full range of resources more available to frontline police officers.

Redwood School is expected to remain closed for the rest of today while a scene examination is conducted.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Christchurch Police on (03) 3637400. Alternatively to provide information anonymously, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.