Man charged with intent to murder after stabbing of police officer in Sydney

A man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder after he allegedly stabbed a police officer in the head in Sydney's CBD.

NSW Police superintendent Martin Fileman said the alleged attack was an "isolated incident" and there was no further threat to the public. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts

Key Points

• The 34-year-old man allegedly stabbed a police officer two to three times before he was chased and tasered.
• Constable Elvis Poa was treated for two wounds to his head.
• The alleged attacker was arrested and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under police guard, for assessment.

A man who allegedly stabbed a police officer in the head in Sydney's CBD has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

Constable Elvis Poa, 35, remains in a stable condition in hospital after being stabbed near Hyde Park by a man who allegedly demanded that officers shoot him.

Police said two officers were performing traffic duties just after 1pm on Sunday on the corner of Castlereagh Street and Park Street when they were approached by the 34-year-old alleged attacker.

The man allegedly produced a 30cm long "kitchen-style" knife and stabbed Poa in the back of the head two to three times.

The alleged perpetrator was pursued by officers into Hyde Park, where he was arrested. Source: AAP / Tracey Nearmy

The man fled and was pursued by the injured officer and a female constable along Park Street and into Hyde Park, with officers directing the man to drop the knife.

The officers confronted the man before other officers arrived and he was Tasered and taken into custody.

"Whilst he was in the park, he still had the knife in his hand and he was demanding that police shoot him," Detective superintendent Martin Fileman told reporters on Sunday.

He is known to police but does not have a history of mental illness recorded on the police database or a "substantial" criminal record, Fileman said.

"This was very much an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the public," he said.

Poa was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for two wounds to his head.

He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where scans revealed he suffered two skull fractures and remains in a stable condition, police said in a statement early on Monday.

The 34-year-old alleged perpetrator was arrested and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under police guard, for assessment.

He has since been released from hospital and charged with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.

He was refused bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.

The incident follows a series of high-profile incidents including an attack at Sydney's Bondi Junction shopping centre where six people were fatally stabbed, and another attack on a bishop who was stabbed while delivering a sermon at a Western Sydney church.