Multiple people have been hospitalised after a man entered several restaurants in the Auckland suburb of Albany and attacked customers with a weapon on Monday night.
Video / Hayden Woodward
Corinthian Drive restaurants are urging customers to return after several reported a drop of up to 80 per cent in business following a random attack on diners by a man on Monday night.
Multiple people were injured with three taken to hospital after a man wielding a weapon entered threerestaurants, Zhangliang Malatang, Yue’s Dumpling Kitchen and Maya Hotpot and started attacking customers at about 9pm that night.
Police cordons were lifted yesterday and businesses have reopened, but people continue to stay away.
Maya Hotpot in Albany where an axe attack happened earlier in the week had no customers at noon on Thursday. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Zhangliang Malatang owner Steven Jin said the police forensic team spent about two days at the restaurant, but the restaurant was able to reopen yesterday.
“Business is really bad, we are down at least 80 per cent because I think people are either still afraid or uncomfortable to be eating in the area,” Jin said.
Paul Lee was the only customer when the Herald visited Zhangliang Malatang Restaurant in Albany just before noon on Thursday. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Paul Lee was the only customer when the Herald visited Zhangliang Malatang, one of the restaurants that were hit by the attacker, just before noon today.
Lee, who worked in construction not far from the restaurant said he was a friend of the owner and was there to show his support.
“I think many businesses have also become victims of Monday’s attack through no fault of theirs, I think they deserve our support,” he said.
Yin said his businesses are just starting to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, and this was just another blow.
“I am just hoping we won’t be too impacted by this one and customers will start coming back this weekend,” he said.
A police presence is still in place in Albany where an axe attack happened earlier in the week. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Asian mini-mart Yummy Mart was one of the first businesses on the block that was allowed to reopen on Tuesday afternoon, but owner Luna Zhang said business has been very sluggish.
“Many of my customers are people who come out here to eat, but they are just not coming,” Zhang said.
Police say they will continue to maintain a highly visible presence in the area, but are reassuring the public there is no further risk in relation to the attack.
A 24-year-old man, who has name suppression, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Waitematā East Area Commander Inspector Stefan Sagar said there was no evidence to suggest the attack was a racially-motivated attack and that police were not seeking anyone else.
Police ethnic liaison officers are available to speak to the communities impacted by the incident. The attacker and those injured have been identified as Chinese.
The Herald understands that only one of the injured, a person feared to have suffered brain damage after being hit on the skull, remains in hospital.
Lincoln Tan specialises in covering stories around diversity and immigration. He’s been a journalist at the Herald since 2006.
