The man accused of deliberately running over an Australian MP and leaving her fighting for her life has been identified as a radical anti-Israel climate campaigner.
Brendan Nugent, 43, was arrested after Helen Haines, a centrist independent, was struck by a car outside her MP office in Victoria on Monday afternoon - seeing her suffer severe lower body injuries and lose her leg.
Social media accounts linked to the suspect have since revealed that Nugent was an anti-Israel activist and a radical environmentalist.
Recent posts refer to the conflict in Gaza, while older posts focused on environmental issues, like logging, and referred to himself as a 'plant person'.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the nation that Ms Haines had undergone emergency surgery in Melbourne overnight following the horrific collision but remains in a critical condition.
Witnesses have claimed that a white Toyota Land Cruiser had driven past Ms Haines collecting items from the boot of her car when it made a U-turn and rammed into the politician twice.
A brave barber watching from his shop next door rushed to the MP's defence and brought the driver to the floor while Ms Haines reportedly remained pinned under the car.
Father-of-three Ricky Jefferies made a citizen's arrest as he waited for police to arrive some minutes later. It is said when they emptied the driver's pockets, a pocketknife was discovered, which he kicked away from the suspect.
Helen Haines, a centrist independent, was struck by a car outside her MP office in Victoria on Monday afternoon
Brendan Nugent, pictured, is accused of running Ms Haines over and has been identified as a radical anti-Israel climate campaigner
Eyewitnesses have claimed that a white Toyota Land Cruiser had driven past Ms Haines collecting items from the boot of her car when it made a U-turn and rammed into the politician twice
The driver of a white 1997 model Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series Troop Carrier has been arrested in connection with the crash
Nugent remains in police custody after spending the night in a cell. He will undergo a mental health assessment ahead of formal interviews by detectives on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, counter-terrorism authorities are set to continue to investigate the incident.
Australian authorities confirmed that the suspect was known to police but had not been on the radar of law enforcement agencies recently.
The suspect had allegedly engaged with Ms Haines on X on several occasions – the last being six years ago and in a post even appeared to commend the MP on her stance on climate change.
The MP, who was elected in 2019, has previously called for strong action on climate change, including a target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
She has also urged Australia to impose sanctions on Israel and put greater pressure on the Netanyahu government to end the conflict, while calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and urgent humanitarian aid.
A photo of the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser uploaded in 2018 to an X account under Nugent's name has the same number plate as the vehicle allegedly used in Monday's incident.
An account attributed to Brendan Nugent has repeatedly interacted with Ms Haines in the past
A man wore a 'this is not us' shirt following the attack on the MP
Another shared a note at the door of the politicians office - along with a bunch of flowers
Police have separately confirmed that there was no record of the vehicle which allegedly struck Ms Haines as being stolen.
The account had previously posted about Israel's war in Gaza and about a 'satanic child sexual abuse material network' just days ago.
Replying to Penny Wong on X after she shared a statement from Albanese, the account called the two politicians a 'couple of US lap dogs'.
'Couple of US lap dogs. Maybe if you had warned Israel about its attacks the world wouldn't be where it is right now,' the account wrote.
In 2024, the account responded to then-UK PM Keir Starmer calling for a ceasefire: 'The only reason Israel bombs innocent people in Rafah is because people like you give them the diplomatic cover and military assistance to do it.'
Police have said it is too soon to have ascertained Nugent's political leanings, or any potential motivation for the alleged attack.
'The focus of the investigation will be to determine, why and how this occurred and whether it was an intentional or deliberate act,' Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason said.
But, according to sources, Nugent has a history of activism in the area and then strayed into 'darker' things.
Albanese has since said: 'It's clear that there was a deliberate act here. This wasn't an accident, someone just skidding off the road here.'
Shocked locals and schoolchildren have begun laying flowers and handwritten notes outside the politician's office.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke said 'no one would have thought' Ms Haines would be among the MPs most at risk of a violent attack.
Hours before the alleged attack, Ms Haines had been taking part in an event at a local school where she was presenting the Australian flag.
'Our national flags are powerful symbols of who we are as Australians - our history, our values and the country we're proud to call home,' the MP wrote in her most recent post.
'I hope these flags inspire pride in our country and conversations about what it means to be Australian.'
Ms Haines is widely known in Canberra and nationally as a strong voice for integrity and honesty in politics after playing a key role in establishing the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The MP is also a passionate advocate for healthcare and regional Australia, having worked beforehand in the industry as a midwife and researcher.
The 'Good Samaritan' who came to Ms Haines's 'defence' told reporters on Tuesday morning that he did not see himself as a hero and 'was just a person who had an opportunity to intervene in a safe-ish sort of way'.
'I didn't realise the seriousness of the situation initially and once it became relevant, I just did what I could and what others were already trying to do,' Mr Jefferies said.
'I basically asked him to jump out of the car and got him out of the car. I had him sit on the ground and police got there within minutes,' he added.
An emotional Mr Albanese earlier told ABC: 'This wasn't an accident. There was a deliberate act, it would appear.'
The incident is believed to be isolated and the public have been reassured that they face no further threat.
'[Ms Haines is] greatly admired right across the political spectrum. She's someone who's characterised by her kindness, her diligence, her intelligence, someone who is so proud of representing that beautiful part of Victoria,' Mr Albanese told a local broadcaster on Tuesday morning.
'And this is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with her this morning and today, and we hope for a full recovery.'
Mr Albanese added that he wasn't aware of any threats made toward Ms Haines in the lead up to the incident.
However, the PM said despite 'this dark and terrible time' there was an 'element of light' through the courageous actions of 'Good Samaritan' Mr Jeffries.
'That person is a hero today,' he said.
'And I just think that he deserves enormous praise and thanks for his intervention, which could have prevented even further infliction of damage, which was aimed at Helen,' the PM added.
Australian opposition leader Angus Taylor said it was a 'shocking day for the nation' and that he was personally praying for Ms Haines.
He said: 'No one should be targeted in this way. Australians will be angry and appalled by the attack on Helen outside her electorate office in Wangaratta.
'Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised. I've spoken with the prime minister, and we are united in our view that political violence must never be accepted as part of public life.'