A man has been rushed to hospital and a weapon seized after a daylight attack at a shopping centre on the Queensland-NSW border.
Emergency services were called to Tweed City Shopping Centre in Tweed Heads South about 3.30pm.
Police were told a 25-year-old man was injured after an altercation involving several people.
Witnesses told 9News the attacker entered a business in the shopping centre and was yelling at the victim about cigarettes before the attack.
Paramedics treated the man at the scene for facial injuries and he was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.
A weapon was seized for forensic examination, police said.
The entrance to the shopping centre was cordoned off by officers.
Police were still searching for the attacker, who fled the scene.
Anyone with information or footage of the incident is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.