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

Coles has 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 refrigerators in the supermarket at the Yamanto Central shopping center in Ipswich, southwest Brisbane, shortly before 5.30pm on Monday when she was allegedly attacked from behind.

As she remains in critical condition in hospital fighting for her life, her alleged attacker, 13, was charged with attempted murder and taken into custody.

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

“Coles complies with all laws relating to the sale of kitchen knives, and this withdrawal has been made out of an abundance of caution while we conduct an investigation,” the statement said.

“The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority in all aspects of our business.”

Suppose Sushi employee Dshering Dema was working opposite 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 that the woman had been stabbed in the back and was lying on the ground with blood pouring around her.

“It was very scary, I came back and was shaking,” she told AAP.

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

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 case was heard at Ipswich Children’s Court on Tuesday.

The boy did not appear in person and lawyer Peta Dent asked for an adjournment so that a brief statement of evidence could be prepared.

The teenager was taken into custody to appear in court again on February 25.

Detective Inspector Michael Manago condemned the violent attack.

“This is an abhorrent crime that happened to an innocent 63-year-old woman doing her daily work in that mall, and this should not happen in society,” he said.

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

Detectives are investigating how he acquired the knife, with recent legislation known as ‘Jack’s Law’ restricting its sale in Queensland.

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

“I feel very unsafe here now,” she said.

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

Police have assured the community that there will be additional high visibility patrols at Yamanto Central.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the incident reflected the state’s epidemic of youth crime.

“What has unfolded is something no Queenslander wants to see,” he said.

“There’s a sense of deja vu for the state and these are exactly the kind of incidents Queenslanders are fed up with.”

The Prime Minister marked further changes to youth justice legislation, following the ‘crime against adults and adult time’ laws passed in December, which did not provide for tougher penalties for attempted murder.

“I have already indicated that we are putting together a panel of experts to implement future changes,” he said.

The incident comes almost a year after Ipswich grandmother Vyleen White was fatally stabbed by a teenage boy in a shopping center car park.

Mrs. White’s daughter Cindy Micallef said she felt like history was repeating itself as she is about to mark the first anniversary of her mother’s death.

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