The victim of an alleged terror stabbing at a university is a graduate psychology student researching brain disorders.
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 at about 8.35am on Tuesday.
Mr Kurniawan was walking to the Brain and Mind Centre, which is located on the campus, when the random attack allegedly took place.
Melvern Kurniawan, 22 (pictured left) was allegedly stabbed in the neck and back with a kitchen knife by a 14-year-old boy at the University of Sydney at about 8.35am on Tuesday
Bystanders rushed to his aid and stemmed the bleeding from his wounds until paramedics arrived on the scene.
He was rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital and is now recovering at home after doctors discharged him on Tuesday night.
The teenager, who was wearing an army cadet-style uniform, was arrested by police a short time later.
He is currently in custody and is also being treated at the RPA Hospital. The boy is understood to be taking part in a mental health assessment.
Detectives from NSW Police and the Counter Terrorism Unit returned to the hospital Wednesday.
‘Officers from Inner West Police Area Command established a crime scene and were informed that after the incident a male boarded a bus on Parramatta Road,’ NSW Police said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr Kurniawan’s family broke their silence from their residence in Sydney’s Hill’s district today following his terrifying ordeal.
‘He is doing fine, really fine. ‘He doesn’t want to talk about it for now, just recover first,’ his mother Desy told the Daily Telegraph.
Doctors allowed Mr Kurniawan to go home late last night, however, he will require ongoing treatment for his injuries.
The teenager, who was wearing an army cadet-style uniform, was arrested by police a short time later (pictured police at the crime scene at the university campus on Tuesday)
Some of Mr Kurniawan’s friends, who visited his home, told the newspaper he is an academically gifted student with a ‘brilliant mind’
‘He’s the smartest guy we know…It’s awful this happened,’ one friend said.
Mr Kurniawan is a research assistant at the Brain and Mind Centre and is currently completing a thesis.
The centre is a globally recognised institute that conducts world-leading research on developing treatments for conditions in the brain,
The institute is also renowned for its leading mental health research.
Mr Kurniawan is studying a Bachelor of Psychology with Honours in Neuroscience.
He is conducting research into dementia, cognition and sleep.
‘I hope to use my experience and knowledge of the relationship between the brain, behaviour, and psychology to assist people across diverse settings,’ his LinkedIn page states.
Detectives from NSW Police and the Counter Terrorism Unit returned to the RPA hospital on Wednesday, where the teenager is currently being treated (pictured police at the crime scene on Tuesday)
Mr Kurniawan was also a prolific high school student and scored an impressive ATAR of 99.40.
He topped his class in several subjects including English Extension Two and Legal Studies.
NSW Police Assistance Commissioner Mark Walton said the incident was not deemed a terrorist attack.
An motive has not identified by investigators at this stage and no connection to an ideology has been made.
Detectives have assessed that the boy acted alone and there is no evidence to suggest he is part of a larger organised group.
Photos from the scene show a puffer jacket and a backpack beside what appears to be a bloodstain on the concrete at the university’s entrance (pictured)
The teenager has taken part in several government run deradicalisation programs after he was charged last year with threatening to carry out a terrorist attack.
Footage captured by a CCTV camera showed the boy walking on Parramatta road before he entered the campus of the university just before 8.30am.
He was seen walking out of the campus holding his right hand, which is understood to have been injured during the attack.
Police said the boy boarded a bus to the RPA Hospital and told staff he had allegedly stabbed someone.
