When asked if the 29-year-old Frenchman, who is in police custody, had links to the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, Gollschewski said “no” and added that there was no ongoing threat to the community.
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Gollschewski said investigators would also consider whether mental health or drug misuse were factors in the incident in which a dog was also fatally injured.
A 21-year-old woman was killed and a 30-year-old man was critically injured in the attack, which occurred in front of about 30 people at Shelley’s Backpackers in Home Hill, south of Townsville, late on Tuesday night (Australia time).
The 30-year-old British man is in hospital in a critical condition.
“Our thoughts are with the family at this hard time”. He continued by saying “This person appears to have acted alone”, and “He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections, however investigations are ongoing”. “There were up to 30 people who witnessed the incident”.
He has not yet been charged, but police weren’t looking for any other suspects related to the incident.
“Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender”, Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters. “He was lawfully in Australia and at this stage he is not known to any authorities”.
Mr Gollschewski added: “This is not about race or religion”.
“Our thoughts are with the family at this hard time”.
A French man stabbed to death a British tourist and injured 2 others in Queensland, Australia.
The Townsville Bulletin reports the British High Commission has sent staff to Townsville and would be “working with local authorities and providing support to the families”.
Ayad – who is due in court Friday – faces one charge of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and 12 counts of serious assault, Queensland Police said.
Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden said her officers were working with global law enforcement agencies.
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He said: “Witnesses have said that they have observed the person attacking one of the persons and as a result of that there was another altercation and subsequently the male person has gone back upstairs at the accommodation complex”.
