Queensland Police Service said up to 30 people witnessed the “senseless act of violence” at around 11.15am GMT yesterday morning (August 23), in which a 46-year-old local man also suffered non life-threatening injuries.
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Smail Ayad, 29, was expected to be charged with stabbing Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, multiple times late Tuesday at a backpacker’s hostel in Home Hill, a rural town in north Queensland state.
Tom Jackson, a 30-year-old British man who came to her aid, received critical head injuries, and a hostel employee was also stabbed.
Police have charged a 29-year-old Frenchman with the murder of a British backpacker at a hostel in Australia.
A motive for the attack is still to be established, however, Superintendent Rohweder said a terrorism link had been all but ruled out.
Ms Ayliffe paid tribute to her daughter, as “an awesome young woman with an adventurous spirit”. He had reportedly also told friends of developing romantic feelings toward her before the incident.
Mr Jackson’s father is on his way to Australia but he said he did not believe any of Miss Ayliffe-Chung’s family would be travelling to the country.
British High Commissioner to Australia Menna Rawlings is in Home Hill to provide support to Britons involved in the attack. Before travelling overseas she attended Buxton and Leek College and Chesterfield College.
Police say they’re not ruling out any cause for the hostel killing, including drugs, extremism, or mental disturbance.
Ayliffe-Chung had been waitressing in the Gold Coast, Queensland, but had recently begun working in the sugar cane harvest to extend her working holiday visa.
Body cameras worn by police recorded him again uttering “Allahu Akbar” when he was arrested at Shelley’s Backpackers, but French nationals who witnessed the incident have told police Ayad’s shouted speech that was incoherent and nonsensical.
Derbyshire backpacker stabbed to death in Frenzied attackTributes to “bubbly” Derbyshire girl killed in hostel attackNeighbours pay tribute to murdered Derbyshire backpacker Mia Ayliffe-ChungFriends of the young woman have set up the crowdfunding page to support her family at this painful time, and have already raised over £3,000 of their £5,000 target.
‘There are a number of concerns in relation to both officer and public safety, ‘ he said.
Queensland police had sought the involvement of the Australian federal police in the investigation in response to Ayad’s alleged cries of “Allahu Akbar”.
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Mr Jackson and Mr Scholz, the manager of the Home Hill Backpackers, about 100 kilometres south of Townsville, have been labelled heroes for their roles in trying to thwart the alleged attack.
