Why police removed the Sydney stabber’s shoes and socks at Wynyard after he stabbed two women

After a dramatic takedown, police and pedestrians were seen taking off the Sydney knifeman’s socks, shoes and pants as he laid sprawled in the road.  

Mert Nay, 21, from Blacktown in the city’s west, was arrested a short time after 2pm in Sydney’s CBD, after allegedly stabbing one woman and slashing another woman’s throat, leaving her to die.  

Dramatic footage of the arrest shows bystanders holding Nay down and a milk crate being used to keep his head trapped.

A man with a knife (left) can be seen walking towards a bystander (right) who was forced to use a chair to protect himself

Police are seen removing Nay’s pants to ensure there are no hidden weapons

One person could be seen kicking off Nay’s shoes as nearby police grab them and pull down his socks. 

The reason for this is to ensure there is no weapon hidden elsewhere on the alleged attacker’s body. 

A Senior Lawyer from the firm Sydney Criminal Lawyers, Mr Fahim Khan, told Daily Mail Australia that removing shoes and socks is a standard precaution that police take. 

‘The man reason why that would happen is if he was concealing any drugs or any sort of weapons in his shoes and socks,’ Mr Khan said.

‘It’s easy to hide small blades or knives in the sole of the shoe’.

‘When police arrest any individual they need to ensure their own protection as well as the safety and protection of the person’.

Mr Khan said that ordinarily during arrests, police are known to pat down a suspect’s jacket of check their pockets.

‘Officers won’t go to the extent of a strip search during an arrest, but still a search to make sure there’s no weapons to hurt themselves or the police officers’.

‘For this individual it’s more of a concern because hes alleged of stabbing someone’.

Sydney Criminal Law senior lawyer Sahim Khann told Daily Mail Australia that removing shoes and socks is a standard precaution that police take

Police were called to King and Clarence Streets in the CBD, near Wynyard Station at about 2pm on Tuesday

Police said they do not believe it is a terror-related incident, and said the alleged attacker did not have links to any terrorist organisations. 

Horrific footage showed the man, wearing a grey hooded jumper and holding a large knife, jumping on top of a Mercedes while screaming ‘shoot me in the head’.

Brave witnesses were able to tackle the man and pin his head down with a milk crate until police arrived and arrested him as hundreds of workers gathered.

Police praised on Tuesday evening the civilians, fire fighters and ambulance staff for preventing ‘what could have been a much worse situation’. 

They said the woman’s body was found in the unit on Clarence Street at 3.15pm, with a witness saying it was found on the building’s fourth floor. 

The Transport Management Centre urged motorists to avoid King Street – south of the city’s Wynyard Station – following the alleged attack on Tuesday afternoon

Footage shows the attacker being pinned to the ground by hero bystanders carrying milk crates

A woman on a stretcher is being taken away in an ambulance from the scene of a stabbing in Sydney

Moments before the attacker was arrested, another woman was found inside the Hotel CBD with a stab wound. She was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has described the incident as ‘deeply disturbing’ while commending the bravery over the bystanders who stepped in to help.

‘The violent attack that took place in Sydney this afternoon is deeply concerning. The attacker is now in police custody following the brave actions of those who were present at the scene and were able to able to restrain him,’ he shared on Twitter.

‘The motivation for this attack has not yet been determined as Police are continuing with their enquiries. Any further offical information will be provided by the New South Wales Police, who are keeping us appraised through our agencies, including details of casualties.’