Poignant final Facebook posts of British backpacker, 21, stabbed to death by French knifeman shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ in horrific rampage at Australian hostel

A BRITISH backpacker living her "dream" has been stabbed to death when a Frenchman shouting "Allahu Akbar" went on a rampage at a hostel in Australia.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, who had been working as a bartender for the past six months, was knifed in a frenzied attack in front of 30 horrified witnesses.

Another Brit, named locally as Tom Jackson, is fighting for his life in hospital after reports that he was stabbed up to 15 times.

Mia's final Facebook posts show her enjoying her new life abroad as she declares she is "living my dream".

Only weeks ago, the backpacker posted on Facebook: "The hardest thing living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays."

Her mother responded: "You'll be back in the blink of an eye, and we'll all still be doing the same old stuff for the most part. Live your dream and know you're in all our hearts."

It has emerged the knifeman also stabbed a dog to death as he rampaged through a room of around 30 people on Tuesday night.

Cops have now arrested a 29-year-old man who they say screamed extremist Islamic prayers during the attack.

The stabbing took place at an accommodation complex in the Home Hill area of Queensland, at around 11.15pm local time on Tuesday.

Mia, also known as Mimi, was from Wirksworth in Derbyshire and graduated from Buxton College last year after studying child care.

She was taking time off to travel after completing her studies and had already visited Morocco, Turkey, India and Thailand before leaving for Australia, where she had initially planned to spend a year.

She had been dating an Australian man, Jamison Stead, up until a few weeks ago. He told MailOnline he was still trying to find out details of the attack.

Mia's 35-year-old sister Natasha was clearly upset as she spoke at her semi-detached home in Selhurst, south east London today.

She said she learned of her sister's death through a phone call from her other sister, Nicola, last night.

"I still don't know the full details of what happened. I wouldn't know what to say. I'm still in shock."

Mia's best friend Zoe Atkinson, 22, has also paid tribute to her "fun" and "live wire" pal.

"Mia was the most fun live wire you could ever come across. There was never a dull moment with her.

"Her passion was so alive you could feel it when around her. She always stood up for what she felt was right. She had huge amounts of empathy and loved very strongly.

"I am proud that she lived her dreams and that's all I ever wanted for her."

Mia's Friend Scott Ackland told MailOnline: "It is under such terrible circumstances that this has happened to such an amazing person.

"Our condolences go out to all of her family and friends. We are also thankful Chris Porter, our other co worker, was able to escape with minimal injuries and our thoughts are with the other man fighting for his life."

Speaking from the family home in Congleton, Cheshire, Tom Jackson's sister, Olivia Jackson, 23, said: "We can't really comment too much at the minute.

"Tom hasn't been in a position to talk to us because he's still in a critical condition in hospital. We can't divulge too much else right now."

Reports have now emerged of a second Brit, Chris Porter, being injured in the attack.

His stepmother today said: "As far as I know he's okay, but I can't make any comments at the moment. He's in a stable condition he's just a bit fragile at the moment."

On Facebook, Emily Jayne Waters wrote: "My good friend tried to help the girl and is critical in hospital. All my friends literally had to stand and watch the poor girl get murdered. I literally can't believe it. I can't stop watching the news.

"What even is this world we live in.

"We haven't even been gone a month. Our closest friends are involved in this - I'm sat on my bed in absolute sheer disbelief.

"RIP to the poor girl who's life has been taken, and to all my friends and the one in paticular (sic) who is in critical condition in hospital right now after no doubt being an absolute hero in this nightmare, my thoughts are with you and only you now, if I could I would come back today to be with you."

Tommy Martin, 24, from Newbury, Berkshire, who met Mia in Bali before reuniting on the Gold Coast, said: "She was a free spirit who didn't have any set plans but that's the way she loved it."

A backpacker who did not wish to be named said he knew the alleged attacker.

He said: "He was a really calm guy, he was always happy. We're all like a big family at Home Hill. It's very hard not to know anyone's business.

"One of the guys tried to prevent it from happening, Tom Jackson, he was stabbed in face 15 times from what I've been told."

Mia was only days into a three-month trip in the area having gone to do fruit picking work so she could extend her working holiday visa.

She was planning to return to the Gold Coast and the Bedroom Bar where she worked after doing the work.

Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender with Mia, said: "Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew.

"She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy.

"She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished forever and I know she'd want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times. Rest in peace my beautiful friend, heaven has truly gained another angel."

Monique Cross, another friend, said: "She was a gorgeous person. It's an awful tragedy - I can't believe it."

A man who lives across the road from the hostel told ABC he heard "blood curdling screams" during the attack.

"It's a very quiet town. We heard the screams, I was terrified, it wasn't very pleasant at all. I'll never forget it.

"A sleepy little town like this, you don't expect things like that to happen."

In a press conference, deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the investigation was in its early stages and all motivations were being considered.

He said: "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed as being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender.

"It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase 'Allahu Akbar' during the attack and when arrested by police."

Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder from the Queensland Police Service said officers were confronted with a "terrible scene" when they arrived.

Mia was found dead at the scene and the British man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Mr Gollschewski said the families of both victims had been contacted with the help of the British consulate.

He said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with those families and their loved ones at this difficult time."

He said he could not tell reporters how long they had been in the country and whether they knew each other was part of the investigation but they were all staying at the same accommodation.

The man taken into custody has been transferred to hospital for treatment for what police believe are non life-threatening injuries sustained in the incident.

He is a visitor to Australia who has been in the country since around March on a temporary visa and has no known local connections, Mr Gollschewski said.

He said they were still trying to find out what he has been doing in the country since his arrival but he was not known to police before the attack.

Police are not searching for anyone else in relation to the incident and there is no known ongoing threat to the community.

Mr Gollschewski added: "This is not about race or religion. It is individual criminal behaviour."

Australian Federal Police and the country's Border Force are also involved in the investigation.

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