A customer has described the moments that led up to a Service NSW employee being stabbed multiple times in an alleged unprovoked attack in Sydney's CBD.
Daniel Horta was in the Haymarket branch when the 55-year-old worker was knifed multiple times in the lower back, chest and shoulder at about 9.20am today.
Horta alleged the man raised his voice with an employee after he was told he didn't have enough documents.
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"Then he started to shout and punch the server, who was an older guy," Horta said.
"Usually I'm not the type of guy that would react in these types of situations but I was the closest male guy so I had to do something."
A 37-year-old man "well known to police" was arrested and has been charged with wounding with intent over the alleged attack.
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His alleged victim was in a serious condition when he was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital.
He has since undergone surgery and is with family in the intensive care unit in a stable condition.
Service NSW said the Haymarket branch will remain closed today and tomorrow as staff work with NSW Police investigating the incident.
"After a short conversation with a male employee, a 37-year-old male has produced a bladed knife in an unprovoked attack and has stabbed a male employee a number of times in the torso," Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman said.
"The 37-year-old male was immediately detained by Service NSW staff and customers."
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Fileman said the man was facing a "substantial custodial sentence".
"We take knife crime very very seriously and this is no exception," he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said it was "horrifying" in a tweet.
"The thoughts of our government and our state are with this worker and their family at what is no doubt a very difficult time," Minns said.
"To all the staff at Service NSW and those first responders on the scene – thank you."
https://twitter.com/ChrisMinnsMP/status/1654335299567198212
Secretary of NSW Department of Customer Service Emma Hogan said the incident was "awful and upsetting".
"Our thoughts are with our injured teammate and his family as well as our colleagues who were present and witnessed the incident," Hogan said.
"His family are with him and we are in touch with them and we are offering our full support."
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She thanked everyone who assisted at the scene.
"Our frontline staff come to work every day to help our customers and those same staff deserve to come home safely," Hogan said.
"The safety and welfare of our teams is the most important thing to us and we are all devastated by this morning's event.
"Our team members who witnessed it have all been offered the appropriate support and are now safely at home with loved ones."
The man's bail has been refused and he will appear in court today.
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