Andrew Tate and a salad bar of ideology: What influenced alleged stabber

The teen accused of stabbing a man outside Sydney University had a close interest in controversial commentator Andrew Tate, police believe. It comes as new footage was released of the teen.

A teenage boy had allegedly planned to carry out a “Christchurch style terror attack” at a Sydney school and had been put in government deradicalisation programs less than a year before the alleged stabbing of a student at the University of Sydney on Tuesday morning.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the 14-year-old boy had been charged over those terror plans, but they were dismissed in Surry Hills Children’s Court on mental health grounds in February this year.

It is understood the teen - who police believe was influenced by a “salad bar of ideologies” and had a close interest in controversial commentator Andrew Tate- was put into a deradicalisation program under the Department of Community and Justice.

On Tuesday morning – less than five months later – the teen allegedly stabbed a 22-year-old University of Sydney student on campus grounds.

The student was released from hospital overnightdis recovering at home.

Supplied screen grabs from CCTV camera of the 14- year-old who has been arrested today over the alleged stabbing at Sydney University of a 22-year-old. The boy is seen wearing a camouflage outfit including camouflage bucket style hat. This footage is about five minutes after the stabbing. Picture: Supplied

More CCTV camera images of the 14-year-old who has been arrested today over the alleged stabbing at Sydney University of a 22-year-old. Picture: Supplied

It’s alleged the teen, who was dressed in a camouflage defence cadet uniform, ran up behind the student and stabbed him in the neck with a kitchen knife, before taking off.

The student was taken by ambulance to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.

While the teenage boy caught a bus from the university to RPA, having suffered wounds to his hand in the alleged stabbing.

CCTV footage captured the moments the boy clutched at his injured hand as he walked along Missenden Road in his camoflague gear, which included a hat and backpack.

It’s understood a concerned member of the public helped the boy to the hospital, after noticing he was injured on the bus.

When he arrived in the emergency department, it’s understood the teen told staff he had stabbed a man.

The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Committee has taken over the investigation of the matter, however, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said it had not been declared a terrorist attack due to the fact a motive or ideology “had not been determined at this stage” and was “mixed and unclear”.

“It is known as a salad bar of ideologies. A lot of these vulnerable people, they’re not linked to one particular ideology,” he said.

A teenager has been arrested after a 22 year old was stabbed at Sydney University this morning. Police have established a crime scene. Picture: Supplied

“I would however like to indicate that here in NSW, nationally and internationally there are concerns about youth being radicalised in the online environment,” he said.

“They are embracing extremist ideologies and moving toward violence. I urge parents to be aware of this risk to children.”

Sources close to the investigation have confirmed the teenager had been attending a school for special purposes in Sydney’s Inner West when he was charged with allegedly threatening to shoot students and engage in self-harm last year.

It is understood he has been homeschooled since the incident.

The teenager was last year on a waitlist to be assessed for autism for his family to be able to access further support.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Wednesday niorning took aim at social media giants, saying children are being radicalised online, and those platforms should be pressured “to remove harmful content”.

“This toxic sewer that our children are seeing on a regular basis, we have to stop it,” she told

ABC’s News Breakfast program on Wednesday morning.

The boy had a close interest in controversial influencer Andrew Tate.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, described the boy’s alleged influences online as a “salad bar of ideologies”. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Concerns about his behaviour – including following UK social media commentator Tate, who has made headlines for his extreme views on women and masculinity – were reported by community members to government authorities such as the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

Sources familiar with the teen say the family has been receiving support from a variety of government agencies to help them with their son.

He is in hospital undergoing assessments and is yet to be charged.

Police on the scene of a stabbing at Sydney University on Tuesday morning. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Police have spent the last few hours combing the scene. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Following the stabbing on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Walton said police believed the teen boy was acting alone and was not associated with any other groups or networks.

Students at the university said they were “rattled” by the incident. One young woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was at a cafe inside the Charles Perkins Centre when she heard sirens.

“All of a sudden there were all these sirens and someone rushed into lock the doors,” they said.

“They said someone had been badly hurt but we didn’t know it was a stabbing.

“To find out someone was stabbed like that is really scary.

“I’m freaked out.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]