An armed person is on the loose in Auckland’s Beach Haven this afternoon after allegedly assaulting someone and leaving them seriously injured.
A police spokesman said officers responded to a report of a grievous assault on Hayman Place about 10am.
A resident of the street told the Herald the alleged offender was wielding a machete.
Another resident described seeing a man chasing another man down the road with what appeared to be a metal bar.
He said the victim was hit in the head and had blood running down his face. The offender then started hitting a car, the witness said.
Police could not confirm details about the weapon, only that the alleged offender was armed with a weapon other than a gun.
The police spokesperson said the alleged offender fled from the Hayman Place property, and the victim transported themselves to hospital.
Police believed the alleged assault was “an isolated incident” posing no risk to the wider community, he said.
Police have cordoned off the road.
“There is an increased police presence in the area while inquiries are ongoing to locate the [alleged] offender,” he said.
“We ask that members of the public avoid the area.”
Witnesses said officers were armed with rifles.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
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