The AFP says there was no prior warning about alleged attack on Haines

The Victoria Police chief commissioner and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner told a press conference this morning they have not ruled out laying further charges, including attempted murder, over the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Mike Bush said Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett said the AFP had no forewarning about any imminent threat to Haines, in response to a question raised about Nugent’s previous social media posts.

“What I can say is we didn’t have any specific intelligence that would have indicated something as atrocious as happened on Monday afternoon,” she said.

Asked about the level of protection afforded to federal MPs and what it would take for each to have a protection detail, she said it would take an “incredible amount of resourcing”.

Haines, 65, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

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