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Backpacker killed in Australian hostel

Destinations
Edward Robertson
24 August 2016

A British woman has been killed in a knife attack in a backpackers’ hostel in Australia.

Police tape crime scene stock image.jpg

The 40-year-old was allegedly shot in Cape Town's Nyanga township

The 21-year-old woman was killed in front of 30 people while a second man, 30, was severely injured in the attack near Townsville, Queensland.

Police are now investigating if the attack was religiously motivated after the 29-year-old French suspect was reported to have shouted the Islamic phrase “Allahu akbar” during the attack.

The stabbing took place at Shelley’s Backpackers in Home Hill which is a popular town with travellers keen to earn money with agricultural work.

A dog was also killed in the attack while a 46-year-old local man also suffered light injuries.