Detective Sergeant John Breda, pictured speaking to the ABC in 2017, was stabbed twice in the torso. Credit:Alex Rowe Witnesses reported hearing four or five gunshots as two other detectives opened fire, shooting the 33-year-old dead. Sergeant Breda - a senior detective attached to the child abuse squad - was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital where he remained in a serious but stable condition in intensive care on Saturday morning. "All the police family have their fingers crossed and are saying prayers for him," acting Commissioner David Hudson said. "Obviously we're not medical experts but we've spoken to them and they are comfortable with his progress, however he is by no means out of danger."

Police patrol Anzac Parade after a police officer was stabbed at the Maroubra Junction Hotel. Credit:James Brickwood Police Minister Troy Grant drove from his home in Dubbo in the state's central west to visit the sergeant this morning. "It's the worst phone call a minister can get to hear that one of NSW's finest has been injured so severely with his life at threat," Mr Grant said, thanking hospital staff. Police went to the pub to arrest 33-year-old Nick Newman, a suspected child sex offender. Credit:NSW Police "There's no more unifying thing that can happen for a police officer than for one of their colleagues to be stricken in such a way."

Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said on Friday the incident unfolded "very quickly" in the packed pub's beer garden. The police officer is taken away to be treated for stab wounds. Credit:Channel Seven "Whilst arresting the male, a 45-year-old detective sergeant was stabbed in the chest and the abdomen by the offender," Assistant Commissioner Walton said. "The two other detectives have both discharged their firearm and stopped the offender who has fallen to the ground. The offender has died at the scene." Police run towards a car park following the stabbing incident. Credit:James Alcock

A critical incident team from the homicide squad will investigate the shooting. Assistant Commissioner Walton said Sergeant Breda - who formerly worked with the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad and is well-regarded by his peers - underwent emergency surgery and police are concerned about his condition. Emergency services were called to the Maroubra Junction Hotel about 3.10pm on Friday. Credit:James Brickwood "This is a relatively routine situation that they were in today, and unfortunately that's escalated and we've ended up with a very serious outcome," he said. "It's fair to say this happened very quickly as the officers approached this man."

Police search a car park in Maroubra after a police officer was stabbed and a man shot dead. Credit:James Alcock An ambulance helicopter team responded to the scene and helped to treat Sergeant Breda before he was driven to hospital with a police escort. Sergeant Breda has a wife, Kim, and a young family. The scene where a man was shot dead after stabbing a police officer. Credit:James Brickwood A witness at the scene said patrons of the pub rushed out after the shooting.

"Right in front of us," he said. "I reckon [there was] about four, five shots, easy, 'bang bang bang bang bang'." Police and paramedics have blocked off part of Maroubra Road to respond to the incident. Credit:James Alcock The man said he saw an injured police officer and "blood everywhere". Southern lanes of Maroubra Road were cordoned off by police tape at the intersection of Anzac Parade as police and multiple ambulances responded to the incident. The Homicide Squad has launched a "critical incident investigation" into the shooting. Credit:James Alcock

After the stabbing, police could be seen running to a nearby car park and searching it with their guns drawn. Pedro Casemiro was walking to the gym across the road from the hotel when he heard police cars rush past with their sirens. He said he walked onto Maroubra Road in time to see scores of police officers running into the pub. "Ten seconds later a lot of policemen started running around the hotel," he said. "The guys at the hotel said someone is shot, someone is dead." The NSW Child Abuse and Sex Crimes squad appealed to the public for information on Mr Newman's whereabouts on Thursday. A warrant had been issued for his arrest over child sex offences.

He had been known to frequent Redfern, the Sydney CBD and Nepean areas, police said. NSW Police Association president Scott Weber said the incident was "another tragedy". "Everyday when we go out onto the street to protect the people of NSW, we realise we may not be coming home," he said. with AAP