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I thought I would die: Minto attack victim

Wayne Greenhalgh has spoken for the first time about the stabbing he endured in an alleged terror attack in Minto.

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Source: AAP


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Minto stabbing victim Wayne Greenhalgh didn't think he'd survive an alleged Islamic State-inspired terror attack near his home, but he's pleaded for people not to retaliate against Muslims.

The 57-year-old grandfather has spoken for the first time after being stabbed several times in the attack in south-west Sydney earlier this month.

His alleged attacker, 22-year-old Ihsas Khan, has been charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder.

Mr Greenhalgh told the Nine Network his alleged attacker approached him in a "very strange" encounter while he was out for a walk.

"He opened the backpack ... Took out this big massive knife. I thought to myself, what the hell?" he told A Current Affair.

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"It was frightening. I looked at my hand here ... just the bone was hanging out and everything was everywhere - there were cuts everywhere."

Mr Greenhalgh feared he wouldn't survive the ordeal, urging a neighbour while he was on a stretcher to contact his family.

"I closed my eyes and I said to myself, 'I'm going now'," he said.

"But he didn't beat me and that's the main thing."

However, Mr Greenhalgh is calling for community unity and doesn't want to see reprisal attacks against Muslims.

He meets Muslims everyday walking around the neighbourhood.

"The kids, I always stir the kids up, 'hello, hello' and I say hello to the mums and dads.

"They're bloody good people, there's nothing wrong with them. They're all happy and friendly and they all know me."


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