Asia-Pacific

British woman killed by man who allegedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’

Police says Queensland knife incident being treated as murder case, not terror a attack

Emergency personnel at the scene of an attack in Home Hill in northern Queensland, Australia in which a French man allegedly shouting the Arabic phrase ‘Allahu akbar’ stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men. Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP.
Emergency personnel at the scene of an attack in Home Hill in northern Queensland, Australia in which a French man allegedly shouting the Arabic phrase ‘Allahu akbar’ stabbed a British woman to death and wounded two men. Photograph: Australian Broadcasting Corporation via AP.
Wed Aug 24 2016 - 13:09

A 21-year-old British woman has been stabbed to death at a backpackers' hostel in Australia by an attacker who was allegedly shouting "Allahu Akbar".

As well as fatally injuring Mia Ayliffe-Chung, the 29-year-old French man severely injured a 30-year-old British man - named locally as Tom Jackson - fighting for his life.

The knife attack took place at Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland at about 11.15pm local time on Tuesday, police said.

An undated photograph of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers’ hostel in Australia by a man who was allegedly shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’. Photograph: Tommy Martin/PA Wire.
An undated photograph of Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who has died after being stabbed at a backpackers’ hostel in Australia by a man who was allegedly shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’. Photograph: Tommy Martin/PA Wire.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, was only days into a three-month trip to the country. She had been working as a waitress and with animals on a farm so she could extend her working holiday visa.

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Queensland deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said all motivations for the attack were being considered, including criminal and political, as well as the impact of drugs and mental health problems.

“Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender,” he said. “It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ during the attack and when arrested by police.”

Murder case

Mr Gollschewski added that Ms Ayliffe-Chung was the first person to be attacked and the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack.

Police said up to 30 people witnessed the “senseless act of violence” in which a 46-year-old local man, named as Grant Scholz, also suffered non life-threatening injuries - and a dog was killed.

The suspect was arrested and transferred to hospital for treatment for minor injuries, and was captured on police body-cams uttering the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ - which means God is Greatest in Arabic.

The attacker is believed to have been acting alone and police have retrieved a knife, thought to have been the weapon involved in the stabbing.

Friends have been paying tribute to Ms Ayliffe-Chung since hearing of the attack.

Amy Browne (19), from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender at the Bedroom Lounge Bar, where Ms Ayliffe-Chung was a waitress, told the Press Association: "Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew.

“She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy.”

PA