Police arrest teenager suspected of stabbing student at University of Sydney

Camperdown, Australia

Police in Australia arrested a 14-year-old boy after he allegedly stabbed a 22-year-old student at the University of Sydney on Tuesday (Jul 2). A report by the news agency Associated Press said that the student was taken to a hospital in a stable condition.

The suspect was dressed in military clothing when he carried out the alleged stabbing. According to New South Wales Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, the suspect was hospitalised for cuts and was kept for a mental health assessment.

A major police operation was launched following the incident and a lockdown was in place at the university. In a statement issued later in the day, the police said that the operation had ended and all areas of the campus were now accessible. 

'Motive or ideology not determined'

“A motive or ideology importantly has not been determined at this time," Walton said.

Also read | Australia's inflation jumps to 6-month high in May

“The ideology that may be related to this young person’s activity is unknown, but I would say it’s likely to be categorized as mixed and unclear ideology. It’s certainly not a religiously related ideology,” he added.

The top police official also said that the New South Wales Joint Counterterrorism Committee was investigating the matter, but there was no ongoing threat to the community. 

Attack not linked to recent Sydney bishop stabbing

According to investigators, there was no link between Tuesday's attack and a 16-year-old charged in the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel on April 15 while a church service was being streamed online.

Several associates of the 16-year-old have been charged with various offences including conspiring to engage in or planning a terrorist act.

(With inputs from agencies)