Man charged with stabbing police officer in chest at Cairns shopping centre

A man has been charged over the stabbing of a police officer in a stairwell of a busy shopping centre in Cairns yesterday.

The 50-year-old male officer was allegedly stabbed in the chest at least twice by the 22-year-old at Cairns Central, in the CBD, about 2:30pm.

At the time, the officer, who remains in a serious condition, was conducting patrols.

Police said yesterday that the two were known to each other.

Officers found the alleged offender half an hour after the incident at the Bungalow Hotel, about 2 kilometres away.

He is due to face court this morning in Cairns, charged with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of a knife, possession of drugs and possession of stolen money.