University of Sydney stabbing: Major update on alleged knife attack of uni student on-campus
A teenager has been charged with a series of offences, most notably the stabbing of a female student five weeks ago.
Melvern Kurniawan, 22, was allegedly stabbed in the neck and back with a kitchen knife by a 14-year-old boy at the University of Sydney’s Camperdown campus on July 2.
He was taken to the nearby Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition and later discharged.
His alleged attacker was arrested near the same hospital, where he has been receiving medical treatment ever since.
The teenager was charged on Tuesday by officers from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
The charges include wounding/grievous bodily harm to a person with intent to murder, and three counts of damage to property by fire/explosion.
Police will also charge him in court with deliberately setting fire to rubbish bins at two locations in central Sydney a day earlier.
The teenager’s case was heard in a juvenile court on Tuesday, where he was formally denied bail to appear again on October 1.
A teenage boy has been charged with premeditated murder by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team, five weeks after an alleged stabbing at the University of Sydney. Pictured is a police officer at the scene
Melvern Kurniawan, 22 (pictured left with his family) was allegedly stabbed in the neck and back with a kitchen knife by a 14-year-old boy at the University of Sydney on July 2
Mr Kurniawan is a research associate at the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney, where he studying for a bachelor’s degree in psychology with distinction.
He conducts research into dementia, cognition and sleep.
“I hope to use my experience and knowledge of the relationship between the brain, behavior and psychology to help people in a variety of situations,” his LinkedIn page states.
The JCTT is made up of members from the NSW Police Force, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.
The investigation into the alleged stabbing is still ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Photos from the crime scene show a puffer jacket and a backpack next to what appears to be a bloodstain on the concrete at the university entrance (pictured)
The charges came after Australia’s terror alert was raised from “possible” to “probable” on Monday.
While not specifically brought forward for any one incident, eight incidents in Australia have reportedly been investigated by security officials for suspected terrorism or possible terrorist links.
Anyone with information about extremist activity or potential threats to the community is urged to report it to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400, no matter how small or insignificant you believe the information is.