Helen Haines, the independent federal MP for the Victorian seat of Indi, is in a critical condition after an alleged attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta on Monday afternoon.

The incident happened about 3.35pm and involved a four-wheel drive outside Haines’ electorate office. The 65-year-old underwent surgery at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital and is in a critical but stable condition. A 43-year-old man has been taken to Wangaratta police station for questioning.

Here’s what we know so far

  • A major investigation is under way into the incident, with Victoria police, the Australian federal police, Asio and counter-terrorism investigators involved.

  • The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said Haines was allegedly “attacked” outside her electorate office in Murphy Street, Wangaratta, in northern Victoria.

  • Police said a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee was allegedly involved in the incident. He was driving a white Toyota LandCruiser.

  • The alleged attacker has been named as 43-year-old Tarrawingee man Brendan Nugent, Guardian Australia has confirmed.

  • The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said witnesses alleged the driver did a “U-turn to get into the car park and to ram Helen against a vehicle, then to reverse and do it a second time”.

  • He was detained by a bystander, a local barber, after the incident and police said a knife was seized from the car.

Related: Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria?

  • The motive for the alleged attack is not yet known.

  • A crime scene was in place and the man was taken to Wangaratta police station for questioning.

  • Albanese alleged the incident was a “deliberate act”. Police previously said it was not yet confirmed if “the parties are known to each other”.

  • No one else was being sought by police in relation to the incident.

  • Albanese said he was not aware of any specific threat to the Indi MP before the incident.

  • Haines was taken to the Wangaratta hospital immediately after the attack before being airlifted to Melbourne for treatment. .

  • In a statement, Haines’s family confirmed that she had been injured and thanked bystanders for their assistance.

  • Threats against federal MPs and other high-profile people have been rising. In the 2025-26 financial year, more than 1,060 were recorded by authorities, up from about 950 in the year before.

  • Leaders across parliament have sent well wishes to Haines and her family.

  • In a snap press conference on Monday evening, Albanese described Haines, who has represented Indi since 2019, as a “thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity and respected right across parliament”.