One man has been killed and two other people have been critically injured in a stabbing attack in the middle of a busy shopping strip in Sydney’s west.
Police were told on arrival at the scene in Merrylands on Tuesday morning that a man stabbed multiple people before leaving the area on foot.
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2m agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 2:20am
Press conference finishes
That is all from Superintendent Glasser on the stabbing attack in Merrylands.
To keep updated on this story, see the ABC News website.
5m agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 2:17am
‘Highly confronting’ scene for first responders and witnesses
“It’s highly confronting. It’s a horrible offence to have taken place in Merrylands just prior to lunchtime with lots of people around,” Superintendent Glasser said.
“It’s very reassuring to see members of the community come and help other members of the community that needed immediate assistance.”
Superintendent Glasser credited the work of officers for leading a “successful police operation” in locating the alleged offender swiftly.
6m agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 2:15am
How attack unfolded
During the stabbing incident, two of the attacks occurred inside a premises, and one was on a footpath on Merrylands Road.
“As far as we’re aware at this moment, there is no relationship between the three victims,” Superintendent Glasser said.
“They were by themselves on Merryland Road when this occurred.”
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Paramedics treated three people for serious injuries, including one man aged in his 30s or 40s who died at the scene.
The two other people — a 22-year-old man and 47-year-old woman — were taken to hospital in a critical condition.
“As far as we’re aware at this moment, there is no relationship between the three victims,” NSW Police Superintendent Simon Glasser said.
“They were by themselves on Merryland Road when this occurred.”
A crime scene has been established. (ABC News)
Following inquiries, a man was arrested at a nearby address and taken to Granville Police Station.
“The alleged offender is known to police for petty crime and a number of mental health incidents,” Â Superintendent Glasser said.
“He is not linked to the address he was located. However, he is a local to the area.”
A crime scene has been established and an investigation is now underway.
Superintendent Glasser said police did not know the motive for the attack.
“It appears it was a random attack,” he said.
The weapon believed to have been used was a kitchen knife approximately 20 to 30 centimetres in length.
Vision from the scene captured several emergency service vehicles and personnel, with paramedics appearing to treat two people on stretchers.
NSW Police Public Order and Riot Squad officers attended a nearby house after the stabbing. (ABC News)
The incident happened on a busy Merrylands Road, with part of the road now closed.
Vision shows police officers searching a nearby property and the surrounding area while talking to locals.
Stabbing attack ‘tragic’
Two men working at a nearby tobacco store said the incident was “tragic”.
“We heard like a scream and then people started running up … it was very quick after that, just choppers came and a lot of ambulances,” a man, who did not wish to be identified, told ABC News.
Emergency services were called about 10am. (ABC News)
Another man said he was inside his shop at the time when he saw a woman talking to police.
“She guided cops towards the station and then she also guided them towards the other side of the street,” Zak said.
“We walked outside to see what’s happening, we seen a bunch of people, like a massive crowd, and then there was just a lady in front of the shop … and there’s just a bit of blood on the floor.”
Witness describes ‘carnage’
Another witness, who called police, described the incident as “carnage”.
Witnesses in Merrylands told police people were attacked in the busy area. (ABC News)
Joe, who was crossing Merrylands Road, said he saw a woman with a neck injury coming out of a convenience store.
While Joe contacted police, another bystander called an ambulance.
“When the police arrived, I noticed that a lady had just slumped down, and she was in a really bad way, and then it took like forever in my mind for the rescue to arrive because I was panicking,” he said.
“It’s absolutely terrible. In the middle of the day … when I saw this, I just stopped immediately and just saw this carnage.”