Police are investigating a serious assault of an elderly train worker in Auckland and are asking for assistance from the public.
The incident occurred on Thursday 28 March 2024 at about 4.30pm.
°Â²¹¾±³Ù±ð³¾²¹³Ù¨¡ West Area Investigations Manager, Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie, says the victim, a 72-year-old train manager, was working on a carriage between New Lynn and Fruitvale when he sat down to complete a report.
¡°Next to him, across the aisle were a man and woman who appeared to be having some sort of verbal altercation.
¡°The woman has then gotten up and moved to sit across from the victim.
¡°Seconds later, completely unprovoked, the man has come over and punched the victim a number of times, rendering him unconscious.¡±
The man and his female companion got off the train at Fruitvale Station.
¡°The victim thankfully is doing okay but is understandably shaken by what has occurred and was very lucky not to have received more serious injuries,¡± Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says.
¡°Police are very keen to identify the pictured male as we want to speak with him in relation to this incident.¡±
Police are also hoping that through this we will be able to identify the woman he was with and ensure she has support available should she need it.
¡°The violence shown by this man is extremely concerning and Police are very keen to find out who he is so we can hold him accountable,¡± Detective Senior Sergeant Goldie says.
¡°The victim was simply doing his job when he was violently assaulted. We cannot accept this type of behaviour in our community.¡±
We encourage anyone who knows who this man may be to contact Police via our 105 reporting line, quoting file number 240330/3374.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
NOTE FOR MEDIA: Four images are attached to this release and these are downloadable via the URL.
