He is accused of killing Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, by stabbing her with a knife a number of times at the hostel in Home Hill, in the north of Queensland.
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Smail Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty and twelve counts of serious assault.
This came after it was revealed Ayad allegedly assaulted 12 officers trying to arrest him, including biting one on the leg.
A young British woman was killed and a British man critically hurt after a Frenchman allegedly stabbed three people while saying “Allahu Akbar” at an Australian backpacker’s hostel, the police said on Wednesday.
The local newspaper also reports the alleged attacker told fellow backpackers he and Ayliffe-Chung were in love and married prior to Tuesday night’s attack. In addition to the murder of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, the attacker also wounded a 30-year-old Briton and killed a dog living on the premises.
He is due to appear in court on Friday.
Superintendent Ray Rohweder of Queensland Police had previously said the possibility that Ayad had an unrequited romantic interest or an “obsession” with Miss Ayliffe-Chung was a line of inquiry.
Townsville Regional Crime Coordinator Ray Rohweder on Thursday said there was absolutely no indication of any form of radicalisation or ideology behind the attack.
Police have confirmed they have charged a 29-year-old French national over Tuesday’s stabbing at a backpackers hostel at Home Hill, which is in Mr Christensen’s electorate. Police say they believe he had consumed cannabis, but Rohweder said there was no evidence of his having taken alcohol or stronger drugs.
Supt Rohweder said interviews with witnesses left investigators in no doubt that any romantic feelings Ayad had towards Ms Ayliffe-Chung were not reciprocated.
Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, studied childcare at Buxton and Leek College before embarking on a round-the-world trip which had included Morocco, India and Indonesia before arriving in Australia earlier this year.
The man, a French national visiting Australia, shouted “Allahu akbar” – the Arabic phrase meaning “God is great” – both during the attack and while being arrested by police, Gollschewski said.
The violence took place in front of around 30 people, and some witnesses said the suspect had been “infatuated” with his female victim.
Ayad had traveled to Australia twice in the past year.
Mia’s mother Rosie Ayliffe said: “My beloved daughter Mia was an fantastic young woman with an adventurous spirit”.
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Australia has been on high alert for terror attacks since September 2014, suffering several attacks including the lone wolf-style murder of Police accountant Curtis Cheng at a Western Sydney police station in 2015. “It’s sad knowing that she won’t be able to do those things”.
