A 39-year-old woman has been stabbed in the head at a gym in Sydney’s inner south, sparking a major police operation.
Police are still on the hunt for the alleged offender, which they believe could be a man in his 40s who was previously in a short relationship with the victim earlier this year.
The 39-year-old woman was leaving Crunch Fitness on O’Riordan St, Alexandria, when the attacker allegedly stabbed the woman multiple times in the head and upper body.
“He used a kitchen-style knife,” South Sydney Police Area Command superintendent Rod Hart said at a press conference on Wednesday.
One witness, who was in the gym carpark at the time, told 7NEWS she saw a man on top of the woman who was screaming.
“It was not like a normal scream,“ she said.
Another man appeared to step in and stop incident, before the alleged offender fled, she said.
“After attacking and stabbing the victim, the offending male got into a vehicle and left,” Hart said.
The 39-year-old woman then ran, bleeding, up the stairs to the gym to seek help, another witness told 7NEWS.
The alleged victim was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Based on the brief domestic relationship that the victim and suspect are believed to have shared earlier this year, Hart said: “This is being treated as domestic violence-related.”
“This was a targeted attack.”
The suspect is known to police for domestic violence offences in the past, Hart said.
Hunt is on after ‘horrendous attack’
Police are still on the hunt for the man, and working on an arrest warrant.
“It’s horrendous what has happened to this woman, and what I want is for this offender … I want him to hand himself in,” Hart said.
The suspect has been described by police as 170-175cm tall, of a muscular to solid build, with dark hair, a dark beard, and an olive Caucasian complexion.
The alleged perpetrator fled the scene in a 2006 grey Ford Focus hatchback with the registration AYQ14W.
“We are concerned that he may still be armed, so I ask members of the public, if they so know and see this person, not to approach them but to call triple-0,” Hart said.
Police are canvassing significant CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, and urged the public to call Crime Stoppers with any information about the attack or the whereabouts of the perpetrator.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
In an emergency, call 000.
