Coles bans the sale of knives after staff member was allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old boy

Coles have banned the sale of knives after an employee was allegedly stabbed by a 13-year-old boy in Queensland on Monday.

Mother-of-two Claudia Campomayor Watt, 63, was stacking fridges in the supermarket in Yamanto Central shopping centre in Ipswich, south-west Brisbane, shortly before 5.30pm on Monday when she was allegedly attacked from behind. 

As she continues to fight for life in hospital in a critical condition, her alleged attacker, 13, was charged with attempted murder and remanded in custody. 

Following the incident, a Coles spokesperson said the supermarket  it would withdraw its range of kitchen knives for sale from supermarkets across Australia. 

‘Coles complies with all legislation regarding the sale of kitchen knives, and this withdrawal is being taken out of an abundance of caution as we conduct a review,’ the statement said.

‘The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority across all aspects of our business.’

Say Sushi worker Dshering Dema was working across from the supermarket on Monday afternoon when she heard screaming and saw people running out of the store. 

She went to see what the commotion was about and saw the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pooling around her.

‘It was very scary, I came back and was shaking,’ she told AAP.

Police lead away a 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing a Coles worker in the back on Monday

Police returned to Coles supermarket on Tuesday where the alleged stabbing took place

Police returned to Coles supermarket on Tuesday where the alleged stabbing took place

The boy tried to flee but shoppers and security staff restrained him until police arrived.

Ms Campomayor Watt was treated by police before being transported by paramedics to Princess Alexander Hospital, where she remains in a critical but stable condition.

The teenager was charged and his matter was mentioned in Ipswich Childrens Court on Tuesday.

The boy did not appear in person and duty lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment for a brief of evidence to be prepared.

The teen was remanded in custody to face court again on February 25.

Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the violent attack.

‘This is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent, 63-year-old woman who is going about her daily employment at that shopping centre and it shouldn’t happen in society,’ he said.

Police confirmed the alleged attack was random and they believe the boy acted alone.

Detectives are investigating how he obtained the knife, with recent legislation known as ‘Jack’s Law’ restricting their sales in Queensland.

Ms Dema said the incident has made her concerned about coming to work.

‘I now feel very unsafe here,’ she said.

Yamanto Central (pictured) was evacuated on Monday as police launched an investigation

Yamanto Central (pictured) was evacuated on Monday as police launched an investigation

Police have assured the community there would be extra high-visibility patrols at Yamanto Central.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli  said the incident reflected the youth crime epidemic in the state.

‘What has unfolded is something that no Queenslander wants to see,’ he said.

‘There’s a sense of deja-vu for the state and is exactly the kinds of incidents that Queenslanders have had enough of.’

The premier flagged further changes to youth justice legislation, following the ‘adult crime, adult time’ laws passed in December which did not include harsher sentences for attempted murder.

‘I’ve already indicated that we are putting together an expert panel to do future changes,’ he said.

The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was allegedly fatally stabbed by a teen boy in the carpark of a shopping centre.

Ms White’s daughter Cindy Micallef said she felt a sense of history repeating as she is about to mark the first anniversary of her mum’s death.

‘It’s absolutely awful. This is very surreal … it’s like deja-vu. How can this be happening again?’ she told Nine Network’s Today Show.

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