A man has been charged over two alleged stabbings at a suburban Newcastle shopping centre in the past week.
Police were called to Waratah Shopping Village about 2pm on Sunday after reports a woman had been stabbed in the car park.
There, emergency crews found a 26-year-old with a stab wound to her arm - she was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition, where she underwent surgery.
The alleged attacker, 20-year-old Jack Fynn, had fled the scene.
The Newcastle Herald reported on Monday that the weekend's alleged stabbing was the second such incident at the shopping centre within three days.
It came after a 38-year-old man was stabbed in the same shopping centre car park on Thursday night.
He was also taken to hospital in a stable condition, with stab wounds to his arm.
Police said the the 38-year-old man was with the 26-year-old during the second incident, on Sunday.
Police said on Tuesday the incidents were believed to be linked and targeted.
Investigators arrested Mr Fynn at a home in Harriet Street, Waratah, early on Tuesday morning.
He has been charged with two counts of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm over both alleged stabbings.
Newcastle City police commander Superintendent Brett Greentree said the arrest was the result of "tenacious work" on the part of investigators.
"These attacks were targeted, and police acted swiftly to put someone before the courts," he said.
"Any serious incident that occurs in the community is of great concern and our priority is keeping the community safe."
Mr Fynn did not apply for bail in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday.
Magistrate David Price adjourned the matter to August 20.
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