HOME HILL, AUSTRALIA — A backpacking trip went horribly wrong when a British woman was stabbed to death by a French national in Australia on Tuesday night.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, was killed by Samil Ayad, 29, at a hostel in Home Hill in northern Queensland at about 11:15 p.m. As many as 30 backpackers saw the attack and some tried to stop it, but Ayad stabbed a hostel employee in the leg and severely wounded British backpacker Tom Watson.
The Townsville Bulletin reports Mia met Samil Ayad, a self-proclaimed kickboxing champion, at the hostel. Ayad became obsessed with her. Witnesses say he told others that he and Mia were deeply in love and married.
On the night of the attack, Ayad reportedly learned that Mia had posed for revealing photos in a magazine and did not reciprocate his feelings.
He flew into a rage and stabbed Mia multiple times while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” At least 30 people witnessed the attack and some tried to intervene. Ayad stabbed a hostel employee in the leg and severely wounded a British backpacker named Thomas Jackson.
Ayad was eventually restrained in a group effort by backpackers and the Australian Federal Police.
Australian Federal Police Commander Sharon Cowden said they would be working with their overseas counterparts to determine if the attack was related to terrorism, the Townsville Bulletin reported.
