A suspect has been arrested and taken in police custody for allegedly stabbing an Indian student in an apparent race attack in Australia, authorities have said. Twenty-eight-year-old Shubham Garg, from Agra, is in a critical state after he was stabbed multiple times. The Australian High Commission is assisting with the facilitation of a visa for a family member, according to the Australian High Commission spokesperson, reported news agency ANI.
The victim was pursuing a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New South Wales.
The victim was attacked when he was walking at about 10.30 pm along the Pacific Highway while returning to his residence.
A 27-year-old man Daniel Norwood was arrested at the scene and was taken to Chatswood Police Station where he was charged with one count of attempted murder, according to the report.
The Hornsby Local Court didn’t grant bail to the suspect. He will remain in custody till the next court appearance on December 14, the report quoted The Australia Today.
The suspect allegedly threatened Garg and demanded cash and his phone. The victim was allegedly stabbed a number of times in the abdomen before the assailant fled, The Australia Today cited local media reports as saying.
Attack an ‘act of racism,’ claims family
Garg’s family called the attack against their son an act of ‘racism’. His parents said they were trying to get an Australian visa for over a week but to no avail, according to local media reports. “My brother Shubham Garg, 28, from Uttar Pradesh, was brutally attacked in Sydney, Australia 11 times with a knife and he is in critical condition. We seek your immediate help in this matter and an emergency visa to family members,” Kavya Garg, the victim’s sister, tweeted on October 12.