14-Year-Old Alleged University of Sydney Attacker Influenced by Mixing Ideologies, Investigated for Extremist Links

A 14-year-old boy accused of stabbing a 22-year-old student at the University of Sydney in an incident investigated for possible extremist links is believed to have been influenced by a blend of ideologies, according to New South Wales police.

The teenager allegedly targeted the student with a kitchen knife at the university campus located in Sydney‘s inner west. The incident unfolded after 8 am on Tuesday near the entrance on Parramatta Road. The boy, who was clad in a camouflage military uniform, reportedly fled the scene on foot but was later assisted by a passerby who aided him in catching a bus to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he was apprehended, treated for hand injuries, and underwent a mental health evaluation.

Collaborating in the investigation, the NSW Police counterterrorism and Special Tactics Command are working alongside the Australian Federal Police. As of Tuesday afternoon, the incident had not been classified as terrorism. While exploring potential extremist connections such as white supremacy, authorities have not pinpointed a specific ideology yet, needed for designating an act as terrorism.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton of the NSW Police revealed that the underlying ideology driving the teenager’s actions remains undefined but is likely a mix of various, non-religiously motivated ideologies. Walton described it as a “salad bar of ideologies,” underscoring the influence of online platforms on vulnerable individuals, particularly the youth.

Although the alleged attacker was known to police and other government agencies, his motives for targeting the student, with whom he had no known prior connection, remain unclear. Mark Scott, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, expressed shock and sadness over the incident, assuring the campus community that there is no ongoing threat.