British backpackers killed and injured in knife attack at Australian hostel
A 21-year-old British backpacker was stabbed to death and a fellow Brit suffered serious injures during the atttack at a travellers’ hostel in Australia.
The deceased 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, which happened near Townsville in Queensland, said the BBC.
He remains in hospital in a critical condition.
A 29-year-old French man has been arrested.
It is alleged he shouted the Arabic phrase "Allahu akbar" during the attack at Shelley’s Backpackers in Home Hill – a town popular with travellers looking for agricultural work in the area.
A dog was also killed in the attack and a 46-year-old local man suffered minor injuries.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the suspect had entered Australia on a temporary visa in March
He said 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.
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.
"Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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