A Service NSW employee has been stabbed multiple times in Sydney's CBD in what police have described as an unprovoked attack.
Police say the 54-year-old employee was stabbed with a knife in his lower back, chest, and shoulder after 9am Friday morning, following a short conversation with the attacker.
The incident took place inside the Haymarket branch of the state government customer service centre.
The victim was taken to nearby St Vincent's Hospital after receiving first aid from paramedics on the scene.
Police have arrested and charged 37-year-old Mahmoud Salhab from south-west Sydney, who was taken to Day Street Police Station.
Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman described it as an unprovoked attack and said Mr Salhab was "extremely well known" to police.
Mr Salhab was immediately detained by Service NSW staff and customers before paramedics and police arrived.
"We take knife crime very, very seriously. This is no exception," Detective Superintendent Fileman said.
Signs outside the Service NSW centre were erected saying the office is now closed due to "unforeseen circumstances".
Service NSW said all other staff at the centre are being offered counselling and support.
Haymarket Service Centre will be closed for the rest of the day and the weekend.
Mr Salhab will appear at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
'Staff deserve to go home safely'
Secretary of the NSW Department of Customer Service Emma Hogan said the Service NSW employee had undergone surgery and was in a critical condition.
"His family are with him, and we are in touch with them offering our full support," Ms Hogan said.
She thanked police, paramedics, staff and customers for their cooperation during the incident.
"What happened at our Haymarket Service NSW centre today is awful and very upsetting.
"Our frontline staff come to work every day to help customers, and those same staff deserve to go home safely."
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the incident was "horrifying".
"The thoughts of our government and our state are with this worker and their family at what is no doubt a very difficult time," he said.
"To all the staff at Service NSW and those first responders on the scene — thank you."
The attack comes three weeks after a paramedic was fatally stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald's in Sydney's south-west.
Steven Tougher was farewelled at a service in Wollongong on Monday attended by over 1,000 people.
The 29-year-old was remembered for his "larger-than-life personality, his sense of humour, but also his strong sense of natural justice", NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said.
