We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A BRITISH BACKPACKER, who was stabbed in an attack at an Australian hostel in which a fellow Briton was killed, has died of his injuries.
Tom Jackson, 30, had sustained critical head injuries in the attack last week. Jackson was hailed as a hero by police after coming to the aid of fellow backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, who was also targeted.
A French national allegedly stabbed Jackson, Ayliffe-Chung, and an Australia man in the Australian backpacker’s hostel in Townsville, north Queensland.
https://twitter.com/ChrisTheJourno1/status/770475664273240064
Ayliffe-Chung, 21, died from multiple stab wounds, while a 46-year-old Australian man suffered non-life threatening wounds.
Police called Jackson a hero, saying his actions to try and shield Ayliffe-Chung from the attack were “completely selfless”. He suffered from more than 20 stab wounds to the face.
His father, Les Jackson, flew from Britain to be at his son’s hospital bedside and said he was “immensely proud” of Tom.
Attack
Frenchman Smail Ayad has been charged with the murder of Ayliffe-Chung and Jackson and is also facing one count of attempted murder regarding the Australian man.
Police allege Ayad said, “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) during the attack and again when arrested, but have also added that there were no signs of radicalisation.
His specific motivations for the attack are still unknown.
The Australian government has been increasingly concerned about extremism and in particular about home-grown radicalisation, keeping the terror threat alert level at high since September 2014.
Additional reporting by Elizabeth O’Malley.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
A brave man. His family and friends should be very proud of him.
RIP. Another needless victim of radical Islam. Hopefully the journal won’t censor my condolences this time around.
More accurately, a victim of a gobsh*te with a knife.
Yeah come on Patrick, gobsh*tes are well known to shout “Allahu Akbar” before stabbing someone in the face.
This one did. There is no evidence that he was even a practising Muslim.
@Brendan
Was he ethnic French? Or was he some other ethnicity? With a different ethnic and cultural view and thus different outlook regarding the territory of France and westerners in general?
He died brave.
Sick of them yet?
So we can comment on this story even though someone has been arrested and charged. The Journal policies are fickle at best.
have your say