French man allegedly shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ in fatal stabbing of British woman at Australian hostel

A French man allegedly cried “Allahu Akbar” during a stabbing attack that left a 21-year-old British woman dead in front of up to 30 onlookers at a backpackers hostel in Australia’s north-east.

The 29-year-old suspect allegedly repeated the phrase – which means God is greatest in Arabic – when arrested by Queensland police who were “confronted with a terrible scene” at the hostel in Home Hill – about 100km south of Townsville – on Tuesday night.

Steve Gollschewski, a deputy police commissioner, said the alleged offender’s comments “may be construed as being of an extremist nature” and investigators were working with Australian federal police to establish his motives.

But police were “not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be criminal or political”.

Sharon Cowden, an Australian federal police commander, said at the same press conference that while the alleged killer had no known links to extremist groups, investigators would be “speaking to all appropriate international law enforcement” to examine this.

“Any line of inquiry that takes us to international law enforcement we will follow,” she said.

Cowden condemned the attack as a “senseless act of violence”.

Earlier on Wednesday, Superintendent Ray Rohweder told reporters in Townsville that investigators were “still trying to piece together what has happened – we don’t have a motive yet”.

“Police were confronted with a terrible scene when they arrived,” he said. “There were up to 30 people who witnessed the incident.”

Police had been in contact with the British consulate which would liaise with the victims’ families, Rohweder said.

Investigators arrested the French national at the scene and took possession of the knife allegedly used in the attacks.

Bill Byrne, the Queensland minister for police, fire and emergency services, described the incident as “tragic and disturbing”.

“Right now our thoughts are with the victims’ family and friends and the close knit community of Home Hill,” said Byrne.

Byrne said he remained in contact with the police commissioner and expected more details as the investigation progressed.

“It is important that we allow police to get on with the job of conducting their investigations and more information will be made publicly available once it is known.”

He also urged the public to remember “this is not about race or religion”, but about criminal behaviour.

A spokeswoman from the British high commission in Canberra said: “We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia.

“Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time. High commission staff have deployed to Townsville and we remain in close contact with local authorities.”

theguardian