A knife attack in which a far north Queensland police officer was stabbed in the neck was unprovoked, police say.
Townsville police Superintendent Glenn Kachel said the officer was stabbed while doing a "walk through" of a bar as part of Operation Unite in central Townsville about 12.30am on Saturday.
He says the officer was stabbed in the neck by a hotel patron.
The officer's hand was also injured by another weapon when he tried to defend himself.
The alleged attacker was arrested by other officers at the scene.
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The injured officer is in a serious but stable condition after having surgery at Townsville Hospital.
A 28-year-old man is under guard in the hospital with a wound to the neck and police say they expect to interview him on Saturday over the alleged attack.
A police spokesman told AAP the man's wound was likely self-inflicted.
Supt Kachel says police will allege the attack was unprovoked.
He would not say whether the officer knew the alleged attacker or whether the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Supt Kachel said the injured officer was doing well under the circumstances.
"He's there (in hospital) with his family and in good spirits," he told reporters in Townsville on Saturday.
Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Clem O'Regan said the attack was unexpected and shocking.
"No one expects to suffer these sorts of injuries and to be threatened in this way," he said.
"Sadly, police officers are assaulted quite regularly but assaults of this nature are rare."
Police arrested 101 people in Queensland overnight as part of Operation Unite, a proactive policing initiative targeting alcohol fuelled and anti-social behaviour in entertainment precincts across Queensland.
