CANBERRA – In a tragic turn of events, a Pakistani petrol station attendant was stabbed to death in Australia on Thursday.
According to the details, the 29-year-old, Zeeshan Akbar, was found with multiple stab wounds after allegedly being attacked by two boys, aged 15 and 16 in Queanbeyan city.
The Pakistani victim was one of four brothers and was in Australia alone. His family still resides in Karachi.
Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia, Naela Chohan while speaking to SBS, revealed that the victim was a temporary resident who had been in Australia for eight years.
Ms Chohan said she did not want to prejudge the investigation outcome at this stage, when asked about a possible racial motive behind the attack.
‘The Pakistani community is deeply concerned and saddened by this horrific murder,’ she said.
Police believe the pair, from Queanbeyan where the Caltex petrol station was located, went on a rampage, allegedly stabbing another man in the stomach, hitting a third with a tyre iron and a fourth with a beer bottle.
The two teens were arrested after being chased by New South Wales state police into the Australian Capital Territory.
Monaro local police commander Superintendent Rod Smith deplored the incident and expressed that it could not get more serious than this.
“It’s an absolutely horrific series of events, and we’d just like to reassure everybody that there are two people that we believe are involved, and both of those people are currently in custody.” he said.
On the other hand, Australian premier Malcolm Turnbull said the attacks were concerning enough to involve the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, while describing the incidents as ‘shocking’.
