Second British backpacker dies after Queensland stabbing

A second British backpacker has died following a stabbing attack at a hostel in Queensland, Australia, last week.

Tom Jackson, 30, of Congleton, Cheshire, was stabbed in the eye, head and torso as he tried to shield fellow traveller Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, at the Home Hill hostel last Tuesday.

Ayliffe-Chung died that evening while Jackson was taken to Townsville Hospital in a critical condition. His life support was turned off today.

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"Our darling Tom has left us and the world is a poorer place. Thanks again to everyone for the love and support you have given us over the last few days, we will be forever grateful," said his father, Tom, who had flown into the city late last week to be by his son's side, reports ABC News.

He added: "There is dark and evil in this world perpetrated by a few, but so much more love and light emanates from so many more. That thought will sustain us over the coming days."

Superintendent Ray Rohweder has praised Jackson's "selfless" courage. "There is no doubt Mr Jackson attempted to render aid to Mia," he said.

Frenchman Smail Ayad, 29, will now face a second count of murder after being charged with the death of Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, in Derbyshire. Officers previously said they were investigating whether he had an "obsession" with her.

A fundraising page set up to support Jackson's family has so far raised more than £1,900 of its £5,000 goal.

Frenchman charged for murder of Brit in Australian hostel

25 August

A Frenchman has been charged with the murder of a 21-year-old British woman at a backpacker's hostel in northern Queensland, Australia.

Smail Ayad, 29, is accused of killing Mia Ayliffe-Chung in a frenzied stabbing attack, which also seriously injured fellow Briton Thomas Jackson, 30, who remains in hospital in a serious condition with stab wounds to his face, chest and stomach. Ayliffe-Chung's travelling companion, Chris Porter, also remains in hospital after jumping from the window of the room where the attack took place, fracturing both heels.

Ayad will face court via video link following consultations with his legal team, Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder, of the Queensland Police Service, told the Sydney Morning Herald. "We have a number of concerns in relation to both officer and public safety," he added.

Early reports suggested the attack might have been "terror related", after witnesses said the attacker repeatedly shouted "Allahu Akbar [God is great]".

However, Supt Rohweder said there was "absolutely no indication of any radicalisation or any political ideology behind this". He also confirmed that one line of inquiry was Ayad's apparent romantic "obsession" with Ayliffe-Chung.

Ayad has been formally charged with murder, attempted murder and 12 instances of serious assault, following alleged violent scuffles with police during and after his arrest. He has also been charged with serious animal cruelty, stemming from accusations that he killed a local resident's dog.

British woman stabbed to death at Australian hostel

24 August

A British woman has been killed in a knife attack at a hostel in Queensland, Australia, which also critically injured a 30-year-old British man.

The victim has been named as Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Belper, Derbyshire.

The knifeman was said to have shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the assault on Tuesday night, which took place in front of around 30 onlookers.

A 29-year-old French national, who has been in Australia since March, has been taken into custody. Police are not looking for anyway else in connection with the incident.

The incident took place in the small town of Home Hill, about 60 miles south-east of Townsville in the north of Queensland. The BBC reports the town is a popular destination for seasonal agricultural workers.

Ayliffe-Chung had spent six months working as a waitress at a nightclub on the Gold Coast, 800 miles away, but needed to spend three months doing regional work in order to extend her working holiday visa.

She arrived in Home Hill around a week ago to work as a fruit picker, intent on returning to the Gold Coast after her mandatory stint in the countryside, the Courier Mail reports.

"Day 4 done. Just 85 left!" she posted on Facebook on Saturday. "Skills achieved; the ability to tell the difference between a rock and a clump of mud and throwing stones really far."

Queensland's deputy police commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, confirmed a 29-year-old French national had been arrested for the attack, which he termed "shocking by any standards".

He added the attacker had made comments about Allah during and after the incident, but stressed the investigation was still "in its infancy".

"We are not ruling out any motivations at this stage," he said. "We wish to reassure the community - we are not looking for anyone else."