49-year-old allegedly killed dog in violent attack after hitting teenage cyclists in stolen car and assaulting woman
Police are set to speak shortly. You can watch the livestream below.
A man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a group of teenage cyclists in a stolen car and violently killing a dog on a street in Auckland's Epsom.
Exact charges against the 49-year-old were still being confirmed after the series of attacks on Wednesday, police say.
Three Auckland Grammar School students were taken to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries.
What happened, according to police
Police said they were called to reports of a serious assault at the intersection of Ranfurly Road and Manukau Road about 7am.
Acting Detective Inspector Craig Bolton said a man without warning had assaulted a woman, causing bruising to her face, head and upper body.
"A member of the public stopped to assist the victim, before this offender has stolen the good Samaritan's vehicle," he said.
"The offender then fled in the stolen vehicle, hitting several vehicles before striking three cyclists who were riding on Manukau Road."
After crashing the vehicle, the offender approached a woman walking her dogs.
"The offender has subjected one of the dogs to a violent assault, and sadly the dog has died at the scene," acting Detective Inspector Bolton said.
Jessica Hopkins reports from scene of police incident in Epsom
"This has all taken place in full view of the public going about their morning commute."
Five patients were at the scene when Hato Hone St John arrived, a spokesperson confirmed.
Three cyclists were taken to hospital, one in critical condition, another with serious injuries and a third in a moderate condition.
Two other people were treated at the scene.
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Several smashed vehicles could be seen inside the cordon, along with a crumpled bicycle next to a red puffer jacket.
Petrol station worker Manthan Patel said he heard a "crazy" sound before he witnessed a man driving a car into another vehicle.
He said the man then got out of the car and attacked a dog.
A staff member at Forbes Homemade Gourmet on Ranfurly Road told RNZ she had seen the incident unfold early this morning.
"There was a guy shouting in the streets next to where I'm working.
"It seemed as though he had no pants on."
She was worried that he could come into her workplace, so decided to call the police.
Soon after, customers told cafe staff that the man had crashed a car and punched a woman, she said.
A cordon put in place around the area had caused "bumper to bumper traffic" in the area, but it was now clearing, she said.
A worker at Steam Wand cafe just outside the Manukau Road cordon heard the man screaming about 7am, followed by the screams of a woman. Police sped past the cafe soon after.
A cordon was in place on Manukau Road, between Ranfurly Road and Queen Mary Avenue. Campbell Crescent was closed to Puriri Drive.
All cordons had since lifted.
"This was an incredibly violent event which has unfolded very quickly. We acknowledge it has impacted many innocent people who were just going about their mornings," police said.
"Police are aware many people witnessed this incident, and we are appealing to the public for information and dashcam footage."
Offender 'known to police' - Seymour
Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Epsom, David Seymour, said the incident will shock people.
"People may be worried that this was some sort of premeditated terror-type attack, it was not that," Seymour said.
"It was a person known to police for mental health illness who has done something absolutely awful but not premeditated the way some people may fear."
He said Epsom was a tight-knit community.
"We don't expect things like this to happen here, or anywhere for that matter.
"Our thoughts will be with people affected by the incident, hoping they recover well and quickly."
There will be an increased police presence in the area while enquiries are ongoing.