A new photo has emerged of Bundoora student Aiia Maasarwe hours before she was killed

A photo has emerged of Bundoora student Aiia Maasarwe, revealing how she spent the day with friends just hours before she was killed. It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews slammed “sexist attitudes” which led to the horrific murder.

A photo has emerged of Bundoora student Aiia Maasarwe, showing how she spent the day practising English in the park with friends just hours before she was killed.

The new photo comes as police arrest a 20-year-old Greensborough man over her death.

The group gathered in the Flagstaff Gardens between 7-8pm for the “Let’s talk in English” meetup.

In a Facebook post, group organiser Arun Chandran said he was “shocked” that Ms Maasarwe was killed just hours later.

ARREST MADE IN BUNDOORA MURDER

POLICE TRAWL CCTV FOR AIIA’S COLD-BLOODED MURDERER

AIIA’S FAMILY MOURNS ‘BRIGHT, GENTLE, CHARMING GIRL’

One of the last photos of Aiia Maasarwe, pictured far right. Picture: Arun Chandran

Aiia Maasarwe, pictured right in a top with the words ‘Merci’. Picture: Arun Chandran

“She was such a positive and friendly person,” he said. “This photo was taken at 7.56pm on Tuesday.”

One person, Jaison Joy, commented on the photo calling for Melburnians to come together.

“As part of the Melbourne community and as humans, we need to come together and show solidarity with her and her family,” he posted. “This can’t happen to another woman.”

Aiaa Maasarwe’s body was found on Wednesday morning.

She was an exchange student from Israel.

PREMIER, PRIME MINISTER CALL FOR CHANGE

Earlier Premier Daniel Andrews slammed “sexist attitudes” which led to the horrific murder of Ms Maasarwe, calling for an end to violence against women.

Mr Andrews issued a statement this morning, saying Victorians were united in their grief and anger over the Israeli-Arab woman’s tragic death.

“We can — and must — end this culture of violence against women,” he said.

“But nothing will change until we change, too. Until we stop blaming ‘bad men’, while ignoring the sexist attitudes in our society that created them.

Police are continuing to search for the attacker. Picture: AAP Image/Stefan Postles

“Until we recognise that while not all disrespectful behaviour towards women leads to violence, all violence towards women starts with disrespect.”

The Premier also sent his condolences to Ms Maasarwe’s loved ones, saying he was “heartbroken” that the vibrant 21-year-old was not safe in Melbourne.

The search for Ms Maasarwe’s killer continues after her body was found near a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning described the attack as “despicable” and “tragic”.

Speaking in Vanuatu today, Mr Morrison said: “Every woman in Australia, every person in Australia, should be able to travel home in safety.”

“I can’t begin to think of what I could say to her family.

“I know the police will do their job, and they will deal with it, but the rest of the country has to wake up to today and deal with the most despicable of crimes.

“So, my heartfelt condolences on behalf of myself and Jenny and my family to her family, and I just pray you can find whatever comfort you can in the worst of all circumstances.”

Earlier, Mr Morrison wrote on Twitter: “My heart goes out to Aiia’s family and friends and everyone whose life she touched. An incredibly shocking, despicable and tragic attack.”

A note written for Aiia Maasarwe. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

KILLER COULD STRIKE AGAIN

Earlier former homicide squad detective Charlie Bezzina today said he believed the public held the key to finding the killer.

“These offenders clearly live with someone — they need to dig into their memory and say who was wearing that,” he told 3AW.

A sketch left in the sea of tributes for Aia Maasarwe. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A message for the murdered student. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A T-shirt and cap found at the scene, along with a CCTV image of what Aiia Maasarwe was wearing on the night. Picture: AAP Image/Victoria Police

“Look at the people around them that are acting differently. They’re going to be on edge … It’s imperative that those who have knowledge of some sort (come forward).”

Mr Bezzina said more people could be at risk if the killer is not caught, and urged those that may have useful information to tell police what they know.

“The potential is there for him to kill again,” he said.

“They’ve got to live with their conscience. If this person or persons strike again, they have to live with that and say, ‘Could I have stopped that?’”

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT AIIA’S KILLER

People gather and lay flowers at the site where Aiia Maasarwe was murdered. Picture: Tony Gough

Two women leave floral tributes near the Polaris shopping centre in Bundoora. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

TRAM FOOTAGE GIVEN TO COPS

Public Transport Victoria CEO Jeroen Weimar said police canvassed CCTV vision, images and files from a number of trams during their investigation.

Speaking on 3AW this morning, the PTV boss said footage from the tram Aiia was travelling on has been passed over to detectives, as well as footage from other trams from the night she died.

“There was footage from the CCTV file on that particular tram that Aiia was travelling on and that’s been provided to police,” Mr Weimar said.

“What’s on that footage and whatever other images they’ve obtained from that, I can’t comment.”

The killer could have followed Aiia Maasarwe from the tram stop, police believe. Picture: Tony Gough

Mr Weimar said about one third of trams in Melbourne run with CCTV cameras and every new tram is fitted with multiple cameras.

“Every new tram we bring on to the network, and we’re adding around one tram a month, is equipped with around ten cameras on it, inside and outside the tram,” he said. “So the coverage is growing.”

A stronger PSO presence will be expected along Melbourne’s tram network in the next few months, Mr Weimar said.

“I would absolutely expect for our tram passengers to see more PSOs on patrol travelling on our tram network over the coming weeks and months, in line with our wider community concerns,” he said.

“And to ensure that everybody has not only a safe journey, but is also able to get home safely at the end of their trip.”

‘BUBBLY’ STUDENT WITH WORLD TO EXPLORE

The young woman was living her dream in Melbourne before the “horrendous” attack, which police believe was random and opportunistic, that ended her life.

Just days ago, a delighted Ms Maasarwe posted a video of a kangaroo bouncing down a street. Other social media posts showed her skydiving over the Great Ocean Rd and hiking in the Grampians.

Friend Rula Wadie Mawassi said the “bubbly” 21-year-old student was “so happy” to be living in Melbourne, adding: “That is what she dreamed of.”

Speaking to the Herald Sun from Israel on Thursday night, Ms Maasarwe’s uncle, Abed Ali Kattani, said his niece chose to study in Melbourne instead of New York, because she thought it would be more cultured and quiet.

“Maybe it was a bad choice,” he said.

Aiia Maasarwe skydiving over the Great Ocean Road.

Earlier, police said they were looking at the movement of known sex offenders as part of their inquiry.

The Israeli national got off a number 86 tram at 12.10am, after a night at a North Melbourne comedy venue. She had walked across Plenty Rd and about 50m along a footpath on Main Dr before being attacked.

TRAGIC TRAM ROUTE’S ‘DODGY’ REPUTATION

She had been making a phone call to her sister, which ended abruptly amid shouting.

The La Trobe University student’s body was found in shrubbery at the Polaris shopping centre.

A bloodstained T-shirt — thought to be the killer’s — was also discovered.

The Cotton On-brand T-shirt is likely to be a major clue.

A cap bearing the number 1986 is also an important clue for investigators. Images of both were distributed to all police, and later to the public.

Friends console each other at the site where the student’s body was found. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Floral tributes continue to grow as the community mourns the tragedy. Nicole Garmston

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said someone knew who was responsible.

“Somebody has come home in the early hours of Wednesday morning — maybe there is blood on them, maybe they are missing items of clothing,” he said.

“Somebody knows about this, and we need help. This is a horrendous crime. We have a grieving family who has had to fly halfway across the world under the most horrific circumstances and we want to be able to give them some answers.”

Police on Thursday released CCTV images of Ms Maasarwe, from hours before her death, in the hope of finding more witnesses who saw her on Tuesday night.

Ms Maasarwe’s uncle Rame told the Herald Sun of his niece’s awful final phone call.

“She was talking to her sister and seemed OK, but then her phone fell, and then she (her sister) heard different voices,” he said. “We thought Australia was safe.”

The scene where Aiia Maasarwe’s body was found. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Forensic police examining the scene for clues on Wednesday. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

MOURNERS PLAN TO FILL TRAM WITH ROSES FOR AIIA

Ms Maasarwe had earlier enjoyed a show at the Comic’s Lounge in North Melbourne.

Lounge comedian Doug Chappel said the tragedy had left everyone reeling, especially after the murder last June of aspiring comic Eurydice Dixon.

“My mind is a bit rattled, to find out that while we were having fun after the show, something so evil was happening,” he said.

The Israeli Embassy said it was preparing to support Ms Maasarwe’s family and return her body home for burial. It said: “We have complete faith in the Victoria Police and have no doubt they will leave no stone unturned in the search to bring the perpetrator to justice.”

La Trobe University sent its condolences to Ms Maasarwe’s friends and family, saying: “The entire La Trobe community is shocked and saddened by this appalling crime.”

A group which organised a vigil for Ms Dixon has organised one for Ms Maasarwe today. Those attending would be encouraged to wear black at Parliament House from 6pm.

Originally published as A new photo has emerged of Bundoora student Aiia Maasarwe hours before she was killed