Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy dressed in military attire following allegations that he stabbed a 22-year-old student in the neck at the University of Sydney on Tuesday.
The injured student was promptly taken to hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Mark Walton, acting assistant commissioner for the New South Wales Police, stated that the suspect received treatment in hospital for cuts and underwent a mental health assessment.
“At this time, a motive or ideology has not been determined,” Mr. Walton informed reporters.
The New South Wales Joint Counterterrorism Committee is investigating the incident, though Mr. Walton assured that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
“The ideology associated with the young person’s actions is unclear, but likely to be categorized as mixed and not religiously motivated,” Mr. Walton added.
The boy was reportedly clad in a “camouflage defence force uniform” and left a kitchen knife at the scene before boarding a bus from the university to a nearby hospital for medical care and subsequent arrest, according to police.
Investigators have found no connection between this university incident and a separate case involving a 16-year-old boy charged with a terrorist act for stabbing a Sydney bishop during an online church service stream on April 15. Several of the 16-year-old’s associates face charges related to conspiracy to engage in terrorism.
In a separate incident in Perth, police shot and killed a 16-year-old boy who had randomly stabbed a stranger in a parking lot on May 4. Authorities did not classify this act as terrorism due to the lack of an ongoing threat necessitating heightened law enforcement response, despite the boy’s involvement in a two-year deradicalization program.
Mr. Walton disclosed that the 14-year-old accused in the university attack had previously attracted attention from law enforcement and government agencies, though he did not provide further details.
No decisions have been made yet regarding the charges to be filed.
“The internet can be toxic, and it’s particularly easy for young people to self-radicalize and gravitate towards violence,” Mr. Walton commented.
The incident on Tuesday prompted a significant police response and a temporary lockdown of facilities at Australia’s oldest university. The university has since confirmed that the police operation concluded, and normal access to all campus areas has been restored.
“Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, and community members, and we continue to cooperate closely with authorities,” the university statement affirmed.