Arabic version: الشرطة تبحث عن رجل بعد هجوم مزعوم بفأس في تايرز

According to The Guardian, Victoria police have identified Peter O’Ryan as the man suspected of attacking three people with an axe or hatchet in the Gippsland town of Tyers before fleeing on foot. Police issued an arrest warrant for the 48-year-old on Sunday and continued a large-scale search begun the previous day.

The alleged attack occurred at about 12.30pm on Saturday at an address in Tyers. Detectives were still establishing the exact circumstances, but police said they believed it followed an argument. O’Ryan is known to the victims, who were able to call emergency services for help.

A 76-year-old man and a 47-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries and remained in a critical condition on Sunday afternoon, police said. A 74-year-old woman was taken to hospital with critical injuries and was in a stable condition on Sunday.

Police circulated images of O’Ryan and the distinctive black and mustard coloured jacket he was last seen wearing. He was also carrying a black backpack. Authorities urged the public not to approach him and to immediately contact Triple Zero (000), warning that he may be armed with an axe or hatchet.

Police said O’Ryan has no fixed address and is known to take refuge in abandoned properties or outhouses. He often frequents the area around Morwell, authorities said, as the search for him continued.