ANU attack: student ‘took bat off attacker’

A student has been taken into custody after allegedly attacking a lecturer at the Australian National University.

Police respond to the incident at Copeland classroom at ANU in Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange

A man has been taken into custody after he allegedly entered a tutorial room with a baseball bat and attacked students at The Australian National University.

The man, who is a student, allegedly entered a tutorial room with a baseball bat and four people were injured before other students restrained him.

Police said they believed it was an “isolated” incident which did not involve any religious slogans or shouted phrases.

“All indication at this stage is that it is an isolated incident. Everything is part of our investigation as we go forward. I can tell you the facts of the matter are that the student stood up at the back of the classroom with the baseball bat and approached the lecturer. Other students have intervened and that is how the injuries have occurred,” ACT Policing Criminal Investigations Superintendent Ben Cartwright said when asked if the attack was racially motivated.

Police praised the bravery of the students as they tried to protect the female lecturer.

“I believe one of the students has taken the baseball bat from the student with it and run away with it and returned later and gave it to the police, so incredible bravery to protect the lecturer,” the spokesman said.

He said the female lecturer, two female students and one male student were injured.

“[They] appear to be defensive injuries, we have a couple of broken bones and a broken arm. Information that has come from the Canberra hospital [is] that they are not life threatening however they are serious.”

The emergency staff have been amazing, #ANU staff already offering counselling to anyone affected #canberra pic.twitter.com/zhCJ2XaJbz

— Jolene Laverty (@Jolene_Laverty) August 25, 2017

Some students received a security alert about the incident.

“You may be aware that earlier today an incident occurred in the Copland precinct of the ANU campus. There is no threat to the safety and security of staff and students on campus,” the message read.

“If you or someone you know is in distress or needs assistance, there is help available.”

In a statement, the university confirmed the man was a student and said four other students were allegedly assaulted at about 9.15am this morning.

“The university’s first priority is the welfare of our staff and students, counselling services are being provided to all those affected,” an ANU spokesperson said. “There is no indication of motive and this is now a police matter.”

Chinese social media site Australian Red Scarf said Chinese students were among the injured in the tutorial, which was for a statistics course.

One unidentified female student witness told the ABC that one student just suddenly stood up and started to beat students.

“There’s a man [who] just suddenly stands up and uses a baseball bat to destroy everything and hit my classmates,” she said.

The woman said there was 10-14 students in the class.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham has spoken to Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington about the incident.

“Thoughts are with injured students and witnesses of this concerning event at ANU. Having spoken with the acting VC I am confident that all is being done to support those affected and that all is now safe on the campus,” Mr Birmingham tweeted.

ACT Policing has called for witnesses to call 131 444.