World News | 3 restaurants in New Zealand attacked diners with an ax and 4 people were injured

WELLINGTON, June 20 (AP) — Four people were hospitalized in New Zealand when a man armed with an ax began randomly attacking diners at three neighboring Chinese restaurants, police and witnesses said.

Police said the man started the attack in the northern Auckland suburb of Albany at about 9pm on Monday. They said they arrested a 24-year-old suspect at the scene and charged him with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Police did not immediately provide a motive for the attack.

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One patient involved in the attack remains in hospital in a stable condition, Auckland City Hospital said on Tuesday. North Shore Hospital said one patient had moderate injuries and another had minor injuries. Both were in stable condition and a third patient had been released earlier.

A diner told the New Zealand Herald he was having dinner with a friend when the man walked in and began attacking his critically injured friend.

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“I was in shock. When I realized what was going on, he tried to target me,” the man, who did not want to be named, told the Herald. “I blocked his ax with my hand. He also wanted to aim for my head so I blocked the ax with my hand.

Diners said the man with the ax chased them out of the restaurant before turning and walking into another restaurant.

The Herald posted an image of what appeared to be a log-splitting ax on the sidewalk.

Acting Detective Inspector Timothy Williams said they were not looking for anyone else in the incident, meaning they believed the man acted alone. Williams said police expect to file more charges.

The suspect was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday.

The restaurants the man entered were Yue’s Dumpling House, Zhang Liang Malatang and Maya Hot Pot. They are one of many restaurants on the street that aim to offer diners a low-cost option reminiscent of Chinese street food. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)