Elderly Man Hospitalised After Alleged Assault by Teen Outside Ashfield Polling Booth
An elderly man is in hospital in serious condition after he was allegedly assaulted by a 17-year-old boy outside a polling station in Sydney’s inner west on Wednesday.
Emergency services were called to the Ashfield Town Hall early voting centre on Liverpool Road around 1pm following reports of an altercation. The man, believed to be in his 80s, sustained neck injuries and was treated at the scene before being transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Initial assessments suggested the man had critical injuries, but NSW Police later confirmed his condition had been downgraded to serious.
The 17-year-old was arrested at the scene and taken to Burwood Police Station, where he is assisting police with their inquiries. Authorities said the pair were not known to each other, and the motive behind the incident remains unclear.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
A spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) confirmed that no staff members were involved in the incident and that voting operations at the Ashfield pre-poll centre were continuing as normal.
