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| UK woman stabbed to death at Australian backpackers' hostel | UK woman stabbed to death at Australian backpackers' hostel |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 21-year-old British woman has died after she was stabbed during an attack at a backpackers' hostel in Australia. | |
| The victim has been named locally as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who is believed to be from Derbyshire. | |
| A 30-year-old British man was also severely injured in the attack, near Townsville, in Queensland. | A 30-year-old British man was also severely injured in the attack, near Townsville, in Queensland. |
| A French suspect, 29, who allegedly said the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" during the attack, has been arrested. | |
| Police said they were investigating a number of motivations, including drugs misuse, mental health issues and extremism. | |
| 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. | 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. | It is located about 100km south-east of the city of Townsville. |
| The injured man remains in Townsville Base Hospital in a critical condition. A dog was also killed in the attack and a 46-year-old local man sustained minor injuries. | The injured man remains in Townsville Base Hospital in a critical condition. A dog was also killed in the attack and a 46-year-old local man sustained minor injuries. |
| Motive unclear | Motive unclear |
| 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. | 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". | Mr Gollschewski said officers were "not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal". |
| He said the woman was the first person to be attacked and the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. | He said the woman was the first person to be attacked and the incident was being treated as a murder case, not a terror attack. |
| "Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drugs misuse factors are involved in this incident," he added. | "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". | 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 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." | "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. | 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. | "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." | "Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time." |
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