Two men have been arrested after off-duty police officers were allegedly attacked on a busy Sydney road, with one left needing CPR.
The two constables, both aged 25, were leaving a concert in Newtown when they came across a group having a “heated” discussion on Enmore Road around 11pm yesterday.
One officer, who was allegedly knocked to the ground then repeatedly punched and kicked in the head, was left unconscious and witnesses helped perform CPR on him before paramedics arrived.
He remains at Royal Prince Alfred hospital in a serious condition.
The second officer who facial injuries has since been released from hospital.
Police arrested an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old man at a home in Mascot about 3.20pm today.
They have been taken to Mascot Police Station.
No charges have been laid yet.
Earlier, NSW Police Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald said police were hunting three persons of interest after the assault.
“I’m confident, we have positive lines of inquiries,” Fitzgerald told media today.
“We will be hunting down those persons of interest, we will be knocking on your door, so if you have anything you want to say, please hand yourselves in to police.”
Fitzgerald thanked the witnesses who rendered CPR on the seriously injured officer and said “anything could have happened” if they weren’t there to help.
She said police were looking for any CCTV, dashcam or phone footage of the “violent, confronting and distressing” incident.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley thanked the witnesses, including an off-duty nurse, who came to the officers’ assistance.
“We have such gratitude for you coming in and helping those officers, particularly that officer with crucial injuries,” Catley said.
“The police [officers] themselves are thankful.”
She added: “Get these perpetrators and to get them behind bars. This is a dangerous attack and we do not want them on our streets.”
Police say the two officers were walking along Enmore Road when they approached three men unknown to them who were having an argument.
“The two off-duty officers were assaulted with one of them knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched and kicked to the head,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“The second man, also aged 25, suffered facial injuries and was also taken to hospital for treatment; however, has since been released.”
The three men behind the attack allegedly fled the scene before police arrived.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.