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Victoria police seek axe attack suspect
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Victoria Police seek a man in his 50s after an alleged axe attack left three people.
The suspect, known to victims, may still be armed, prompting a major manhunt.
Background
On Friday, police were called to a property on Cowies Road in Tyers, about 160km east of Melbourne, where a man allegedly attacked an elderly man, an elderly woman, and another man with an axe. The victims, believed to be family members, suffered life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital. The suspect fled on foot and is believed to be armed with an axe and a handsaw.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Police were called to a Cowies Rd home in Tyers around 12:30pm after an alleged axe attack left three people critically injured.
- Sep 5, 2026The suspect, a man in his 50s known to the victims, fled on foot; police launched a search across nearby bushland.
- Sep 6, 2026Police continue to hunt for the suspect, identified as Peter O'Ryan, and warn the public not to approach him.
Who’s saying what
- Police
- Police urge the public not to approach the suspect, who may be armed with an axe and handsaw, and to call emergency number 000.
Still unverified
The identity of the suspect as Peter O'Ryan is based on media reports and has not been officially confirmed by police.