Two men are in custody following an investigation into the alleged assault of two off-duty police officers in Sydney’s inner west on Wednesday night.
The men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested at a home in Mascot at about 3.20pm on Thursday and have been taken to Mascot police station.
The emergency services were called to Enmore Road, Newtown, following reports of a brawl at around 11pm last night.
The police found a 25-year-old off-duty officer unconscious on the roadway.
An off-duty nurse performed CPR until the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics before he was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
The injured man and a second man, who is also an off-duty police officer, were walking along Enmore Road when they approached three men who were having an argument.
The two off-duty officers were allegedly assaulted with one of them knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked to the head.
The three men left the scene before local police arrived.
Two men are in custody following an investigation into the alleged assault of two off-duty police officers in Sydney’s inner west on Wednesday night
Members of the public performed CPR on the man before paramedics arrived on Enmore Street
The second man, also aged 25, suffered facial injuries and was also taken to hospital for treatment but has since been released.
The two off-duty officers has been at a concert by American singer Alec Benjamin at the Enmore Theatre.
A crime scene was established, and detectives started an investigation into the incident under Strike Force Rabnor.
Speaking earlier on Thursday, Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said ‘We will be hunting down those persons of interest, we will be knocking on your door.’
‘If you have anything that you want to say, hand yourself in to police.
Paramedics are seen treating a young man at the scene of a king-hit attack in Sydney
‘The CCTV shows a group of men attacking an officer that is on the ground and another officer, and it is very violent.’
Investigators were yet to determine if the men who were allegedly assaulted had identified themselves as officers.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley condemned the ‘violent assault’.
‘These types of violent crimes are not what we want to see on our streets,’ she said.
‘This is a despicable act on two officers who were out enjoying themselves in this very vibrant part of the city.’
Premier Chris Minns said ‘all of NSW will be thinking of these brave men and their families’.
‘I’m devastated to hear that two off-duty police officers were seriously assaulted last night in the Inner West,’ he said in a statement.
‘These two men saw an incident, went to assist those involved, and were brutally attacked, this is sickening.
‘Every day our police force put their lives on the line to keep us safe – even when they’re not in uniform.
Enmore Road was designated as the first ‘special entertainment precinct’ in NSW in late 2023, recognising the inner-city area’s popularity as a late-night music and hospitality hub.
The designation allows extended trading hours for certain venues and looser noise controls for businesses.
Inquiries are continuing.
