View Full Version : 21yr old UK woman stabbed to death at Australian backpacker hostel...
A 21-year-old British woman has died after she was attacked with a knife in front of 30 people at an Australian backpackers' hostel.
A 30-year-old British man was also severely injured in the attack, near Townsville, in Queensland.
Police are investigating whether the alleged attacker, who has been arrested, was motivated by extremism.
It is alleged the 29-year-old French suspect used the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" during the attack.
The stabbing took place at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill - a small town which is popular among travellers looking to do agricultural work, such as fruit picking.
It is located about 100km south-east of the city of Townsville.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the suspect was a visitor to Australia who had been in the country since around March on a temporary visa. He has no known local connections.
Mr Gollschewski said officers were "not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal".
"Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drugs misuse factors are involved in this incident," he added.
Queensland Police described the attack as "a senseless act of violence".
"We don't have any motive at this stage," said Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder on Twitter.
"We're taking a number of statements in relation to what exactly was said on the evening."
Meanwhile, British high commissioner to Australia, Menna Rawlings, is travelling to Townsville.
"We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another was critically injured in an incident in Australia," a spokeswoman for the commission said.
"Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-37171751
arista
24-08-2016, 08:35 AM
"29-year-old French suspect used the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" during the attack."
http://news.sky.com/story/british-backpacker-stabbed-to-death-at-queensland-hostel-10549504
yes perfect for a TS comment
Cherie
24-08-2016, 08:43 AM
Poor girl horrible death
arista
24-08-2016, 09:03 AM
Poor girl horrible death
yes Evil Murder
Niamh.
24-08-2016, 09:05 AM
Jesus that must have been terrifying
Will.
24-08-2016, 10:42 AM
A British backpacker 'living her dream' on a gap year in Australia has been stabbed to death by a knife-wielding Frenchman screaming Allahu Akbar.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, had been on the trip of a lifetime gap year when she was murdered in a frenzied attack by a maniac on Tuesday night.
A second hero Brit named as Tom Jackson is in hospital after he was stabbed 15 times in the face trying to stop the maniac at a backpackers’ hostel as he tried to save her.
A third man from Australia was injured trying to stop him and a dog was killed in the in front of 30 horrified witnesses at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, Queensland.
The alleged knifeman is a 29-year-old French national has been in the country on a temporary visa since March.
Witnesses said he was seen loudly singing the French national anthem before carrying out the attack.
He was caught on police body camera shouting 'Allahu Akbar', meaning God is great, as he was taken into custody.
She had just arrived from working as a waitress in Surfer's Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast after travelling in Turkey and India.
'The hardest thing living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays,' she wrote in a July Facebook post.
Among She had said she was 'living her dream' in a Facebook post, but said it was hard missing family.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3755684/Woman-dead-man-fighting-life-French-tourist-went-stabbing-rampage-Queensland-backpackers-hostel.html#ixzz4IFGQgHAT
Will.
24-08-2016, 10:42 AM
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/08/24/07/3789295000000578-3755684-image-a-3_1472019697499.jpg
Kizzy
24-08-2016, 11:06 AM
How can 30 people not help?... :(
Cherie
24-08-2016, 11:11 AM
How can 30 people not help?... :(
Not easy to tackle someone going nuts with a knife, the shock of it as well, I guess they managed to contain him in the end?
billy123
24-08-2016, 11:26 AM
Poor girl what a horrific waste.
Kizzy
24-08-2016, 11:39 AM
Not easy to tackle someone going nuts with a knife, the shock of it as well, I guess they managed to contain him in the end?
I was thinking fight or flight you would have expected 1 out of the 30 to fight?... like you say could've been shock or it could've happened very quickly :(
Cherie
24-08-2016, 11:40 AM
I was thinking fight or flight you would have expected 1 out of the 30 to fight?... like you say could've been shock or it could've happened very quickly :(
Two men are injured and a dog was killed so someone did step in?
A second hero Brit named as Tom Jackson is in hospital after he was stabbed 15 times in the face trying to stop the maniac at a backpackers’ hostel as he tried to save her.
A third man from Australia was injured trying to stop him and a dog was killed in the in front of 30 horrified witnesses at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, Queensland.
Niamh.
24-08-2016, 11:40 AM
Yeah the two men stepped in ^
...so, so sad..:sad:...
A British man who was injured trying to save a fellow backpacker as she was stabbed to death in Australia has died, Queensland Police has said.
Thomas Jackson, 30, of Congleton, Cheshire, was injured when he tried to help Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, in the attack at a hostel last week.
Frenchman Smail Ayad, 29, has been charged with murdering Ms Ayliffe-Chung and attempting to murder Mr Jackson.
Police said this charge would be changed to murder.
'Selfless'
Mr Jackson's father Les said: "We are bereft. Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place.
"There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more. That thought will sustain us over the coming days."
The backpacker suffered critical head injuries as he went to the aid of Ms Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Police described his actions as "selfless".
A spokesman for Queensland Police said Mr Jackson had passed away in the Townsville Hospital.
Investigations are continuing, but detectives will upgrade the charge to murder when Mr Ayad next appears at Townsville Magistrates' Court on October 28, he added
Mr Ayad is alleged to have stabbed Ms Ayliffe-Chung and to have caused the injuries which led to Mr Jackson's death at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill on 23 August, at about 23:15 local time.
Twelve police officers were also injured.
Police previously said they were investigating whether Mr Ayad had an "obsession" with Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
Speaking after the attack, Mr Jackson's family said they were "immensely proud" of him for his actions.
"There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom," his father said.
"His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride."
A fundraising page has been set up for Mr Jackson, called a "hero" on the Youcaring page. It has raised more than £1,300 of a £5,000 goal to support Mr Jackson's family.
A tribute from his father on the site said: "Thanks again to everyone for the love and support you have given us over the last few days, we will be forever grateful."
arista
30-08-2016, 07:58 AM
Yes Another Death
by the same mad man.
Tragic
Niamh.
30-08-2016, 08:59 AM
...so, so sad..:sad:...
A British man who was injured trying to save a fellow backpacker as she was stabbed to death in Australia has died, Queensland Police has said.
Thomas Jackson, 30, of Congleton, Cheshire, was injured when he tried to help Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, in the attack at a hostel last week.
Frenchman Smail Ayad, 29, has been charged with murdering Ms Ayliffe-Chung and attempting to murder Mr Jackson.
Police said this charge would be changed to murder.
'Selfless'
Mr Jackson's father Les said: "We are bereft. Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place.
"There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more. That thought will sustain us over the coming days."
The backpacker suffered critical head injuries as he went to the aid of Ms Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Police described his actions as "selfless".
A spokesman for Queensland Police said Mr Jackson had passed away in the Townsville Hospital.
Investigations are continuing, but detectives will upgrade the charge to murder when Mr Ayad next appears at Townsville Magistrates' Court on October 28, he added
Mr Ayad is alleged to have stabbed Ms Ayliffe-Chung and to have caused the injuries which led to Mr Jackson's death at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in Home Hill on 23 August, at about 23:15 local time.
Twelve police officers were also injured.
Police previously said they were investigating whether Mr Ayad had an "obsession" with Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
Speaking after the attack, Mr Jackson's family said they were "immensely proud" of him for his actions.
"There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom," his father said.
"His actions in response to this horrific attack only add to that sense of pride."
A fundraising page has been set up for Mr Jackson, called a "hero" on the Youcaring page. It has raised more than £1,300 of a £5,000 goal to support Mr Jackson's family.
A tribute from his father on the site said: "Thanks again to everyone for the love and support you have given us over the last few days, we will be forever grateful."
aww I'm really sorry to hear that news, poor guy and an absolute hero too
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.