HEROES have fought off a knife-wielding attacker with a chair before pinning him to the ground with a milk crate after he allegedly stabbed a woman and ran through the streets of Sydney with a huge blade.

The suspect was filmed yelling "Allahu Akbar " and "shoot me in the f***ing face" as he ran through the Australian city with a bloody knife before brave witnesses - including three Brits - tackled him to the ground.

31 This is the moment a man holding a chair confronts the suspected knifeman in the streets of Sydney

31 A man was pictured at the scene with a huge blade after a woman was stabbed

31 Paul O'Shaughnessy, seen in a black cap, was seen among the crowds rushing to pin the man to the ground after he prowled through the Sydney city centre with a knife Credit: Twitter

31 The suspect was seen jumping onto cars

31 Bystanders helped to detain the suspect, pinning him to the ground Credit: Twitter

31 The suspect was seen being led away by police - who say they have not yet established a motive

31 Police swooped after being called to reports of the knifeman stalking through Sydney, with the suspect pictured here with blood on his jumper

31 This is reportedly the knifeman's blade in the gutter after he was apprehended

31 A woman is rushed to hospital after the stabbing in Sydney today Credit: EPA

31 The suspect in the back of the police van Credit: refer to caption.

31 The bloody hand of the knifeman Credit: refer to caption.

It appears the man in question has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/hMLyKhUDZi — Laura Jayes (@ljayes) August 13, 2019

Brits caught up in Sydney stabbing recount moment they heard screams as knifeman stalked city's streets

Dramatic footage showed one man bravely confronting the apparent knifeman with a chair after he jumped onto a car.

Witnesses, since praised for their bravery, then appeared to apprehend the suspect in chaotic scenes - pinning him down under the chair and putting a milk crate on his head.

Police say a 21-year-old woman was found dead in a separate crime scene and confirmed it was linked to today's rampage.

They said the 21-year-old suspect stabbed a 41-year-old woman in the back, and was rushed to hospital where she is now in stable condition.

He has been identified as Mert Nay by multiple media outlets, according to News.com.au.

Three Brits have since recounted the moment they ran to help pin the suspected knifeman to the ground.

Lee Cuthbert, Paul O'Shaughnessy and Luke O'Shaughnessy, all from Manchester, were working in the area when they heard the man attempting to stab several people outside, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

They told the Australian paper: "We had a window open to get some air in and then we just heard the commotion [...] we looked out and saw him on top of a car wielding a knife and we all just kind of reacted from there.

"We just tried to get down as quick as we could. You don't think, you just kind of react really, it was surreal, very, very surreal.

"We all kind of chased, worked together, but it was Luke who was the real hero. He pursued him the hardest and managed to get a grip of him."

Paul, a former Bury midfielder who moved to Australia in 2008 to play for North Sydney, added: "My brother Luke managed to keep him pinned down until the police arrived.

"My brother put a crate and a chair to keep him pinned down. He didn't show any remorse at all."

What we know so far

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and is in custody - and is expected to be charged with homicide and serious assault

A 21-year-old woman was found dead in a nearby flat and linked to today’s rampage

A 41-year-old woman was stabbed in the back, in an apparent random attack and is in stable condition

Three Brits heroically held the suspect down with a milk crate and chairs

The suspect has no known terror links and is being described as lone actor

Next thing I see this guy jumping over the car, over the bonnet… he had a knife in his hand Witness

Terrifying photos show the suspect then being led away by police, with his grey jumper covered in blood.

A witness told 2GB Radio that he saw the terrifying incident unfold as the suspect jumped on cars.

The Uber driver said: "Next thing I see this guy jumping over the car, over the bonnet… he had a knife in his hand.

“He had a bit of blood on his shirt.

“There were police, people with their phone out, there were [firefighters] trying to contain him.”

First reports began emerging at around 2pm local time (5am BST) - with terrified passersby taking to social media.

A witness who chased the man could be heard saying: "Do you know how many people you just stabbed, you dog?"

"You just stabbed a chick, mate, in broad daylight."

One witness told the ABC he was walking towards Wynyard Park when a man came running around the corner "with a long knife".

The witness said: "[He was] about three or four metres away from me, and then came about five or six other men chasing him.

"They were armed with crowbars and one man had an axe and another man … I think had a firefighting implement.

"My immediate impression was that it was a scene from a crime show being shot, but then that quickly turned out not to be the case and the man ran down the road towards the cafe where patrons there must have tripped him up and they then put a milk crate over his head."

31

31 From the left: Brit heroes Alex Roberts, Lee Cuthbert and Paul O'Shaughnessy Credit: News Corp Australia

31 Lee Cuthbert and Paul O'Shaughnessy speak to the media in Sydney after tackling the knifeman Credit: News Corp Australia

31 Lee Cuthbert was interviewed after he helped tackle the suspect Credit: refer to caption.

31 The British heroes were interviewed my media after apprehending the knifeman Credit: refer to caption.

31 Luke O'Shaughnessy, from Manchester, was also among the brave witnesses who leapt into action Credit: Facebook

31 A brave witness can be seen holding a chair in front of the suspected knifeman in Sydney

31 Paul O'Shaughnessy was one of the Brits caught up in the horror Credit: AP:Associated Press

31 Paul said he and two other Brits gave chase Credit: AP:Associated Press

31 Witnesses were praised for their bravery for stepping in

31 The suspect could be seen covered in blood

31 A woman was seen covered in blood as she was rushed to hospital Credit: EPA

31 Police have told members of the public to avoid the scene after the terrifying incident unfolded Credit: EPA

31 Police said they had received reports of a man walking around York Street in Sydney with a knife Credit: Reuters

31 The woman was found badly injured at Hotel CBD in Sydney Credit: EPA

Police said during a press conference today that the 21-year-old man is involved in the stabbing and homicide.

They said the suspect had a history of mental health issues, but couldn't confirm local reports he had recently escaped from a mental health facility.

The suspect was arrested with white supremacy material on a thumb drive in his possession with files on massacre white-supremacist attacks in the US and New Zealand.

They said he had "ideological material" but no links to terrorism.

Police said today's rampage was not being treated as a terrorist attack but said at the moment he is considered a lone actor with mental health issues.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said: "It appears to be a random attack.

"Information was found on him that would suggest he had some ideologies in relation to terrorism but he has no links to terrorism.

"There was certainly information found on him about other crimes of mass casualties and mass deaths around the world.

"There is no current intelligence on this individual and he has no apparent links to other terrorist organisations."

However, they added it was "the infancy of the investigation" when asked if today's attack was terror related.

Police said: "I can say that he was known to police with but his history was unremarkable compared to the of gravity of the crimes he committed.

"I can say he does have a history of mental health, but at this stage, I can’t expand on that.

"No doubt in the coming days, the investigation will be looked closely at, not just the last couple of days, but certainly the last probably six months to 12 months.”

Police are investigating if mental health and/or drug issues were a factor but “at the end of the day it’s a horrendous crime and he should pay for that.”

The man is expected to be charged with the homicide of the young woman and face serious assault charges for the stabbing.

NSW Police Superintendent Gavin Wood said there had been "multiple" attempted stabbings in the attack.

He said: "There has been, again, subsequent to that stabbing a number of attempted stabbings by the same offender and bearing in mind we have multiple crime scenes, we are in the infancy stage of this investigation."

And he praised bystanders for rushing to restrain the alleged knifeman, saying: "They were brave and I can only use that word seriously — they were significantly brave people.

"To approach a person with a mindset of obviously what this person did, with clear evidence of a stabbing previously, these people are heroes."

New South Wales Police confirmed a man was in custody after allegedly stabbing a woman in the city centre.

(The witnesses) were brave and I can only use that word seriously — they were significantly brave people Gavin Wood

A statement read: "About 2pm (Tuesday 13 August 2019), emergency services responded following reports a man was walking along York Street, Sydney, armed with a knife.

"As police made their way to the location, there were multiple reports the man had stabbed someone near the corner of King and Clarence Streets.

"Police and NSW Ambulance paramedics located a woman inside a hotel, who had a stab wound.

"She has been taken to hospital in a stable condition.

"A short time later, members of the public detained the man before police attended and arrested him."

The suspect has since been taken to Day Street Police Station.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: "The violent attack that took place in Sydney this afternoon is deeply concerning. The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and were able to able to restrain him.

"The motivation for this attack has not yet been determined as Police are continuing with their enquiries. Any further offical information will be provided by the New South Wales Police, who are keeping us appraised through our agencies, including details of casualties.

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"Our thoughts are with all those who have been impacted by this violent attack."

A number of crime scenes have been established and a number of road closures are in place, which is believed to have significant impact on traffic and public transport.

Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command, and various specialist police, are conducting proactive patrols the area, but it is believed there is no further threat to public safety.

31 Emergency services said the woman was stabbed at a hotel in Sydney Credit: EPA

31 Police crews rushed to the scene in Sydney's city centre Credit: EPA

31 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recognised the brave witnesses who tackled the suspected knifeman

31 An officer stands guard at the scene in Sydney Credit: AFP or licensors

31 Reports of a man with a knife sent emergency services into high alert Credit: EPA