Manhunt after axe attack in Victoria
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The gist
A man in his 50s allegedly attacked three people with an axe in Tyers, Victoria, leaving them critically injured. Police are hunting him, warning he may still be armed.
Background
The attack occurred at a rural property in Tyers, a small town in Victoria's Gippsland region, about 140-160km east of Melbourne. Police were called around 12:30pm on September 5, 2026, after reports of a man attacking three people before fleeing on foot. The suspect is known to the victims, which may indicate a domestic or personal motive. The incident has triggered a large-scale search in the area, with residents warned not to approach the man.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026 12:30Police called to a home on Cowies Rd in Tyers after a man allegedly attacked three people with an axe, leaving them critically injured.
- Sep 5, 2026 afternoonThe suspect, a man in his 50s, fled on foot. Police launch a large-scale search, warning he may be armed with an axe and handsaw.
- recentlyManhunt continues, with two male victims airlifted to Melbourne with life-threatening injuries and a woman in critical condition.
Who’s saying what
- Police
- Police urge the public not to approach the man, as he may be armed with an axe and handsaw, and to call triple-0 immediately.
Still unverified
The exact motive for the attack is not yet known, and the suspect's identity has not been released.