Accused Sydney uni attacker allegedly previously planned terrorist attack

A 14-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed a student at the University of Sydney threatened to carry out a mass shooting less than a year ago but charges were dropped on mental health grounds.

Police are investigating if the teenager, who was wearing camouflage gear when he allegedly stabbed the 22-year-old student at the University of Sydney entrance on Tuesday morning, has extremist links.

CCTV captures an image of a person matching the description of the alleged attacker on Tuesday morning.

The teenager allegedly walked up to the man and stabbed him from behind in the neck with a kitchen knife near the university’s Parramatta Road entrance.

He allegedly fled the scene on a bus. In CCTV footage captured from a nearby shop, a man matching his description was seen walking past shortly after the alleged stabbing, nursing what appeared to be an injured hand.

Concerned for the teen’s welfare, a member of the public helped him to the nearby Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he is being treated for cuts to the hand and is undergoing a mental health assessment.

While police are investigating potential extremist links, including white supremacy, they have not identified a specific ideology.

Last September, the teenager had planned to carry out an alleged “Christchurch-style” attack, sources close to the case who are not authorised to speak publicly have alleged.

The teenager allegedly made violent threats to classmates at an inner-west Sydney school and mentioned terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre in New Zealand.

The teenager was charged last year with using carriage service to menace, harass or offend and stalking or intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical harm.

Those charges were dismissed on mental health grounds and he was put into the care of a doctor.

Speaking on Tuesday about the university attack, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton said the suspect’s driving ideology was unknown.

“But I would say it is likely to be categorised as mixed and unclear, it’s not religiously motivated,” Walton said at a joint press conference with the Australian Federal Police.

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

Parts of the campus were blocked off by police. Credit: Janie Barrett

The teen, who lives in Sydney’s inner west, was known to police and “other government agencies”, said Walton.

Police have no evidence that the alleged attacker was acting with a network. The suspect was not connected to the army or cadets, Walton said.

Counterterrorism police have taken over the investigation but have not declared the incident a terrorist attack because they have not identified a specific ideology as required by legislation.

The attack is not linked to last week’s failed alleged terror plot in Newcastle, said Walton.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 22-year-old man at the scene. He was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition, where he remains.

Forensic officers gather evidence at the university.Credit: Janie Barrett

“We’re very fortunate his injuries are fairly minor, someone being stabbed in the neck can quickly end up in tragedy,” said Walton.

Multiple university buildings were locked down earlier on Tuesday. The accused teenager and the alleged victim did not know each other.

Police seized the knife allegedly used in the attack from the scene and there was no ongoing risk to the public.

In an email to staff and students, university vice chancellor Mark Scott confirmed the victim was a student.

“I am shocked and saddened to inform you that a student in our community was attacked on our Camperdown campus this morning in what police believe is an isolated incident,” Scott said.

“NSW Police have arrested the alleged attacker and have assured us that there is no ongoing threat to the community.”

The university was less busy than usual on Tuesday, as most students enjoy a break between semesters.

“As a precautionary measure, there may be an increased security and police presence on campus while investigations continue,” a university spokesperson said.

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