Couple Stabbed While Their 3 Children Were in Bed During Home Invasion in Case of Suspected Mistaken Identity By Charlotte Phillipp

A mother and father of three are recovering after they were stabbed during a home invasion — and police believe the incident involved a case of mistaken identity.

According to police in New South Wales, the 41-year-old man and 37-year-old woman were at home in the Sydney, Australia, suburb of Guildford West as their children were sleeping at around 11 p.m. local time on Saturday, Aug. 30, when two armed men stormed through the front door wearing face coverings.

The man and woman were assaulted, according to police, and they were both stabbed multiple times with a machete.

Their three children, all under the age of 10, were not injured, police said.

According to local outlets 7 News and 9 News, the 41-year-old father could be heard screaming “anybody help,” per CCTV footage from a neighboring building, and neighbors rushed outside to help.

“The neighbor’s outside screaming,” one bystander recalled to 9 News. “There is blood everywhere. We tried to go and help her, and the husband said, ‘I don’t know what happened.’ ”

The outlets reported that several neighbors chased the two attackers — both of whom were wearing black tops with hoods and white sneakers — into the street, and they fled into a getaway car parked outside the house.

Police said that a third person was driving the getaway car, a white sedan.

The couple were transported to a local hospital. Both are in stable condition, and the 41-year-old man is set to undergo surgery for his injuries.

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Police Superintendent Simon Glasser told the outlets that the two men had been looking for different people in the targeted attack, but the intended target is still unknown.

“We believe they were looking for someone in particular and left when they were chased out,” Glass said, per 9 News. “However, the family involved have no criminal links, so we believe they were after somebody else.”

The police superintendent added that the couple’s neighbors were “very courageous,” but warned others to be cautious in situations such as these.

“Obviously, we want people to be cautious when they’re acting like that, but on occasions where people are being attacked, you need to do what you can do to assist,” Glass said, per 7 News. “But if people aren’t in danger, we ask that people not approach and contact police.”

Police confirmed that an investigation is underway.

“As inquiries continue, police are urging anyone with information about the matter — or was in the area at the time with any available dashcam/mobile phone footage — to contact Granville Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” officials said.