Police hunt for 36-year-old man after fatal stabbing on Auckland bus
A man who attacked two individuals on an Auckland bus yesterday has been named, though he remains at large, according to police.
In two separate incidents aboard the same bus in east Auckland, one man died and another sustained serious injuries after being attacked by the same assailant. The assaults occurred on the number 76 bus traveling from Glen Innes toward Ōrakei around 8:00 p.m.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said investigators believe the perpetrator has been identified. A search warrant was executed this morning with assistance from the armed offender squad, but the suspect was not located at that time.
The man identified by police is 36-year-old Adrian Pani, for whom an arrest warrant has been issued. He is wanted for murder and causing grievous bodily harm and should be considered dangerous. People should not approach him if seen.
If information about his whereabouts arises, call 111 immediately rather than approaching him.
Regarding why the bus driver did not stop after the first attack, Baldwin noted the driver has been interviewed and likely did not grasp the severity of what occurred at the time. The driver was aware of the second confrontation because he got off the bus at the same stop as the second victim and another passenger.
The investigation continues as officers pursue Pani’s family and pursue every lead. The overarching aim is to arrest him and bring him into custody. There is no place for this kind of senseless, needless violence in the community, and police are conducting a thorough inquiry into the motive behind the attacks.
Victims were going about their business
Baldwin described the unprovoked nature of the assaults as rare and deeply shocking. Neither victim interacted with nor provoked the offender; both were simply minding their own affairs.
Police also want to speak with two young women who boarded and exited the bus after the first victim was injured but before the second attack. Pani did not engage with them.
The two women are believed to have left the bus before the second confrontation, having sat toward the rear previously. Identifying and interviewing them is a priority for investigators.
A detailed timeline was released, outlining the sequence of events. Authorities say the suspect boarded the bus on Apirana Avenue in Glen Innes at 7:53 p.m. The first victim, a man in his 50s, boarded at 7:56 p.m., moved toward the rear, and attempted to exit at 7:58 p.m. An unrelated passenger then attacked the first victim before he could alight near Fenchurch Street in Glen Innes. The injured man sustained a fatal knife wound to the torso and subsequently died after being transported to hospital.
The bus continued on its route, and at roughly 8:09 p.m. the second victim, a man in his 50s, boarded. The offender launched a second, unprovoked assault at the rear of the bus, producing a knife and injuring the second victim.
After a brief confrontation, the second victim escaped with the help of another passenger and the bus driver near the Coates Avenue and Kepa Road stop. The suspect then exited the bus and was last seen running away on foot.
The second victim was taken to Auckland City Hospital with serious hand injuries and remained in stable condition.
St John Ambulance confirmed two ambulances, a critical care unit, and an operations manager were dispatched to the scene.
AT response and safety measures
Auckland Transport expressed its condolences and said it would support police inquiries into the incidents on the number 76 service. The agency noted that onboard CCTV footage is being reviewed in collaboration with police, and it is working with the bus operator to assist the driver.
AT reaffirmed its commitment to passenger safety across buses, trains, and ferries, emphasizing ongoing efforts with partner agencies and communities to reduce violence in public spaces. Despite these troubling events, AT stressed that robust safety measures are in place network-wide.
