Derbyshire backpacker stabbed to death in frenzied attack

A Derbyshire woman has been killed in a bloody knife attack after a Frenchman yelled 'Allahu Akbar' and attacked innocents in a 'rampage' according to national media.
Belper's Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who has been killed in a knife attack while backpacking in Australia. (Source: Facebook).Belper's Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who has been killed in a knife attack while backpacking in Australia. (Source: Facebook).
Belper's Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who has been killed in a knife attack while backpacking in Australia. (Source: Facebook).

A 30-year-old British man is also in critical after the attack which took place in Queensland, Australia, with police investigating possible terrorist links to the young woman's death.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, from Wirksworth in the Derbyshire Dales was a waitress at the Surfers Paradise hostel in Queenslands for the past six months and had also been working on a sugar cane plantation to extend her working holiday visa in Australia. She is believed to have been in the area of Townsville for 10 days

Witnesses reported a 29-year-old man from France called out in Arabic 'God is Great' before the attack at the hostel, Shelley's Backpackers in Home Hill, her stabbed Mia to death with a knife.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been posting regular updates on her travels on Facebook. The tragic 21-year-old Derbyshire woman was killed yesterday (August 23) at an Australian hostel. (Source: Facebook).Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been posting regular updates on her travels on Facebook. The tragic 21-year-old Derbyshire woman was killed yesterday (August 23) at an Australian hostel. (Source: Facebook).
Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been posting regular updates on her travels on Facebook. The tragic 21-year-old Derbyshire woman was killed yesterday (August 23) at an Australian hostel. (Source: Facebook).

Queensland Police Service said up to 30 people witnessed the "senseless act of violence" at around 11.15am GMT yesterday morning (August 23), in which a 46-year-old local man also suffered non life-threatening injuries and has been released from hospital, and a dog is also confirmed to have been injured in the attack.

The force said the investigation is still in its early stages and more details are expected to become clear as it unfolds.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said: "Initial enquiries indicate that comments that may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender.

“While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage whether they be political or criminal.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been posting regular updates on her travels on Facebook. The tragic 21-year-old Derbyshire woman was killed yesterday (August 23) at an Australian hostel. (Source: Facebook).Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been posting regular updates on her travels on Facebook. The tragic 21-year-old Derbyshire woman was killed yesterday (August 23) at an Australian hostel. (Source: Facebook).
Mia Ayliffe-Chung has been posting regular updates on her travels on Facebook. The tragic 21-year-old Derbyshire woman was killed yesterday (August 23) at an Australian hostel. (Source: Facebook).

“Investigators will also consider whether mental health or drug misuse are factors in this incident.”

Police confirmed they took a man into custody upon arriving at the scene at Ninth Street, Home Hill.

Also known as 'Mimi', Miss Ayliffe-Chung went to Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth and the Ecclesbourne School in Duffield before studying Psychology at Chesterfield College.

She had been in Australia for around a year and was posting regular updates from her travels, and was described by a friend at the hostel as 'bubbly'.

In the days leading up to the attack she posted on Facebook: "Day one, done! Only 87 left to do. Today we were in sugar canes. Feeling like a little Jamaican again. Saw about 5 small spiders, 4 poisonous toads and 3 geckos. Not too shabby of a day."