This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-37171751
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung stabbed to death at Australian hostel | Backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung stabbed to death at Australian hostel |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 21-year-old British woman has died after she was stabbed during an attack at a backpackers' hostel in Australia. | 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 by friends as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire. | The victim has been named by friends as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire. |
| An unnamed 30-year-old British man severely injured in the attack in Home Hill, Queensland, is in a critical condition. | An unnamed 30-year-old British man severely injured in the attack in Home Hill, Queensland, is in a critical condition. |
| A French suspect, 29, who allegedly said the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" during the attack, was arrested. | A French suspect, 29, who allegedly said the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" during the attack, was arrested. |
| Police are treating the incident as a murder case, not a terror attack. | |
| They are investigating a number of possible motivations, including drugs misuse, mental health issues and extremism. | |
| Live updates on this story and more | Live updates on this story and more |
| The stabbing took place at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill. | The stabbing took place at Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill. |
| The small town - about 100km (60 miles) south-east of the city of Townsville - is popular among travellers looking to do agricultural work, such as fruit picking. | The small town - about 100km (60 miles) south-east of the city of Townsville - is popular among travellers looking to do agricultural work, such as fruit picking. |
| Miss Ayliffe-Chung had lived in Surfers Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast, and worked as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before making an 800-mile trip north to work outdoors. | Miss Ayliffe-Chung had lived in Surfers Paradise, on Australia's Gold Coast, and worked as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before making an 800-mile trip north to work outdoors. |
| She was just days into a three-month trip working with animals when she was killed. | |
| Her latest Facebook update was on August 20, four days after starting work on the farm. | Her latest Facebook update was on August 20, four days after starting work on the farm. |
| Jamison Stead, who had been in a relationship with Miss Ayliffe-Chung, remembered her as a "beautiful soul" who had "fallen in love with the country and its people". | |
| He said: "She was a beautiful girl who had her whole life ahead of her and we spoke of what the future may hold in store for her and what she wanted to do. | |
| "It's sad knowing that she won't be able to do those things." | |
| Mr Stead said they met towards the end of April through friends in Surfers Paradise. | |
| "She was living in Surfers on the Gold Coast and planning on exploring Australia, with the intention to find a sponsorship as she wanted to stay here as she had fallen in love with the country and its people," he said. | |
| "I can't quite get my head around what's happened. Truly devastated, more just disbelief that this has happened." | |
| Mykah Powell, 18, a colleague from the Bedroom Lounge Bar, said Miss Ayliffe-Chung initially worked at Bond University in Queensland before starting work at the dance club six months ago. | Mykah Powell, 18, a colleague from the Bedroom Lounge Bar, said Miss Ayliffe-Chung initially worked at Bond University in Queensland before starting work at the dance club six months ago. |
| She said: "She loved her cat Leo which she purchased here in Australia very much and was forever Snapchat-ing the cuteness." | She said: "She loved her cat Leo which she purchased here in Australia very much and was forever Snapchat-ing the cuteness." |
| Amy Browne, 19, who also worked at the Bedroom Lounge Bar, said: "Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew. | Amy Browne, 19, who also worked at the Bedroom Lounge Bar, said: "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. | "She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy. |
| "She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished forever and I know she'd want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times." | "She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished forever and I know she'd want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times." |
| Profile: Mia Ayliffe-Chung | Profile: Mia Ayliffe-Chung |
| According to her Facebook profile, Miss Ayliffe-Chung is from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. | According to her Facebook profile, Miss Ayliffe-Chung is from Wirksworth, Derbyshire. |
| She went to Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth before going to Chesterfield College to study psychology and communication and culture. | She went to Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth before going to Chesterfield College to study psychology and communication and culture. |
| She later went to Buxton College to study childcare. | She later went to Buxton College to study childcare. |
| It is understood she travelled to Bali before arriving in Australia. | It is understood she travelled to Bali before arriving in Australia. |
| Tommy Martin, 24, from Berkshire, who met Miss Ayliffe-Chung in Bali before reuniting on the Gold Coast, said: "She was a free spirit who didn't have any set plans but that's the way she loved it." | Tommy Martin, 24, from Berkshire, who met Miss Ayliffe-Chung in Bali before reuniting on the Gold Coast, said: "She was a free spirit who didn't have any set plans but that's the way she loved it." |
| Police said Miss Ayliffe-Chung's family had been contacted, as had the relatives of the injured British man who was taken to Townsville Base Hospital. | Police said Miss Ayliffe-Chung's family had been contacted, as had the relatives of the injured British man who was taken to Townsville Base Hospital. |
| British High Commissioner to Australia, Menna Rawlings, is also travelling to Townsville. | British High Commissioner to Australia, Menna Rawlings, is also 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." |
| A 46-year-old Australian man injured in the incident - named by a friend as Grant Scholz, who ran the hostel - sustained non life-threatening injuries and has since been released from hospital. | A 46-year-old Australian man injured in the incident - named by a friend as Grant Scholz, who ran the hostel - sustained non life-threatening injuries and has since been released from hospital. |
| A dog was also killed in the attack. | A dog was also killed in the attack. |
| Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the suspect, who was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries, had been in Australia since around March on a temporary visa. He has no known local connections. | Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the suspect, who was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries, had been in Australia since around March on a temporary visa. He has no known local connections. |
| Mr Gollschewski said officers, who retrieved a knife thought to be the weapon involved in the stabbing, were "not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal". | Mr Gollschewski said officers, who retrieved a knife thought to be the weapon involved in the stabbing, 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. | |
| "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." |
| 'Joy and energy' | 'Joy and energy' |
| Paul Lovatt, head of pastoral care at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth, remembered former pupil Miss Ayliffe-Chung as "enriching the school environment". | Paul Lovatt, head of pastoral care at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth, remembered former pupil Miss Ayliffe-Chung as "enriching the school environment". |
| He said: "Everyone at the school is shocked and saddened at the news that Mia has lost her life in the most tragic of circumstances. | He said: "Everyone at the school is shocked and saddened at the news that Mia has lost her life in the most tragic of circumstances. |
| "We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers. | "We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers. |
| "She joined our school in Year 9 and flourished here, both in making strong friendships and in achieving high-level GCSEs. | "She joined our school in Year 9 and flourished here, both in making strong friendships and in achieving high-level GCSEs. |
| "Mia was a bubbly student who was energetic, caring and who immersed herself in life, enriching the school environment she contributed to. | "Mia was a bubbly student who was energetic, caring and who immersed herself in life, enriching the school environment she contributed to. |
| "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult of times." | "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult of times." |
| Were you in the area at the time of the attack? If you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist you can get in touch with us in the following ways: | Were you in the area at the time of the attack? If you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist you can get in touch with us in the following ways: |
| Or comment here: | Or comment here: |