A Tongan detainee, Paea Teu, aged 28, has been apprehended following a two-day manhunt after he allegedly attacked two Australian Border Force (ABF) officials. The incident occurred early Thursday morning while Teu was being transferred from Villawood Detention Centre to Sydney Airport. During the transport, he reportedly used a makeshift weapon, fashioned from nail clippers, to stab a 54-year-old officer in the neck and assaulted a 36-year-old officer.
Following the attack at approximately 3:40 AM, Teu fled, prompting an extensive search by law enforcement. Reinforcements were mobilised to locate him and, on Thursday evening at around 9:40 PM, a member of the public spotted him on Eschol Park Drive, leading to a police call. Shortly thereafter, Teu was taken into custody on Ballantrae Drive in St Andrews. A 24-year-old woman was also arrested for allegedly assisting him.
Teu faces serious charges, including causing wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, as well as wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Following his arrest, he was denied bail and is scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court. The woman arrested alongside him has been charged with knowing involvement in harbouring an escaped inmate. She has been granted conditional bail, with her appearance scheduled for Campbelltown Court on May 22.
Both Border Force agents were transported to Westmead Hospital for treatment of their injuries following the attack.