Aiia Maasarwe was studying English at La Trobe University. Credit:Instagram Homicide detectives suspect Ms Maasarwe may have been stalked after getting off the tram - which runs from Docklands to Bundoora - some time after 11pm on Tuesday. Police have collected CCTV footage from The Comics Lounge in North Melbourne where it is believed Ms Maasarwe may have watched a show. The young woman was found unresponsive outside the Polaris shopping centre on Wednesday morning. Credit:AAP About 40 police were at the crime scene on Thursday where, about 11.30am, they conducted a line search in a large paddock between La Trobe University and residential units near the shopping centre where Ms Maasarwe's body was found.

That search area has since been cordoned off. 'Is Australia safe?' Ms Maasarwe had been studying Chinese and English at Shanghai University, and had spent the past six months in Melbourne on a study abroad program at La Trobe University. Her uncle Rame Maasarwe, who lives in America, said his nephews called him from Israel to tell him what had happened. "I can’t believe that something like this has happened in Australia. It’s not safe there in Australia? In Melbourne? It’s not safe?" he asked. "We think America is dangerous, not Australia."

He said his niece was a positive, adventurous young woman, who loved to travel. "She’s positive, she likes to have fun, she’s a very friendly person you know. She’s a good sister," he said. "I was very proud of her, she was a very good person, a very loving person. "She liked to discover new things, see new places. She travelled all over the world." Aiia Maasarwe (left) was an Israeli student studying English in Melbourne. It is believed she was sexually assaulted and killed after getting off a tram in Bundoora. Credit:Facebook Ms Maasarwe was originally from Baqa al-Gharbiyye, a predominantly Arab city in the Haifa district in northern Israel, but had been living with one of her sisters in China, while studying there, before coming to Melbourne.

She had completed a tandem skydive along the Great Ocean Road in December and visited local sites including the Shrine of Remembrance in September and the Grampians just a few weeks ago. Aiia Maasarwe's family are shocked she was killed in a country the considered safe. Credit:Instagram Another of Ms Maasarwe's uncles, Abed Katane, told Israeli newspaper Haaretz the family was in shock. "It's the kind of thing you never expect," he said. "She was an excellent student, full of life, and was in a country that was not dangerous at all, to say the least. And despite that, we get this incredibly painful news." Mr Katane said Ms Maasarwe's father was on his way to Australia to formally identify his daughter's body, and was in contact with the Israeli Embassy in Canberra, which would help arrange for her body to be sent to Israel for burial.

One of her La Trobe University classmates, who requested not to be named, said Ms Maasarwe had been at a comedy show in North Melbourne on Tuesday night. He said Aiia had asked him and some other students if they wanted to go to the comedy venue with her, but he said he couldn't go. Aiia Maasarwe visited the Grampians National Park in Victoria's west in the first week of January. Credit:Instagram "She is the kindest girl. I’m so shocked. Some people couldn’t sleep last night, including me," he said.

He said Ms Maasarwe had been in Australia for about six months and lived in a small apartment near the university. Loading She was part of a WhatsApp group with a number of friends from the English course and when she did not reply to messages they became nervous. "I found out yesterday evening," her classmate said. "In that moment we all, all the students, we couldn’t accept it. We didn’t believe it. You know, she was an exceptional student." He remembered Ms Maasarwe as a positive person who lived life to the full.

"She enjoys her life, she can do everything, she’s a positive person. She is happy every day, she is so kind," he said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The investigation: 'The woman has been assaulted' Tradesmen and another passer-by found Ms Maasarwe unresponsive, behind bushes near the entrance to a car park at Polaris shopping centre about 7am on Wednesday. The location is not far from the intersection of Plenty Road and Main Drive, and just metres from a tram stop.

It is believed she was unconscious but breathing when she was found. Homicide Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said police had not ruled out the possibility Ms Maasarwe had been sexually assaulted. "It's apparent, or it seems that the woman has been assaulted," he said. She was wearing sandals and her clothing appeared to be in disarray when she was found.

Massive resources have been thrown at the investigation. Dozens of detectives and SES volunteers were at the scene on Wednesday combing the area, including drains and gutters, for evidence. Investigators are expected to focus on CCTV footage from a BP service station on Plenty Road, security cameras outside the shopping centre, and any vision from the No. 86 trams travelling from the city to Bundoora between 11pm and 1am. Just after 6pm on Wednesday, a group of about 30 detectives and SES personnel did a line search of the area between the tram stop, and the bushes where Ms Maasarwe was found. A secondary crime scene was established in heavy bushland in Bundoora Park about 7.30pm. 'Everyone had the right to get home safely'

Bundoora residents and workers at the shopping centre laid flowers at the scene of the attack on Thursday morning. Colleagues Claire Cursio and Becky Blenner walked down to the grassy stretch outside the shopping centre with flowers in hand. Kylie Fitzgerald, Clair Cursio and Becky Blenner who work at the shopping centre laid flowers at the scene. Credit:Paul Jeffers "I just wanted to show my support," Ms Blenner said. Monique Hanley said the news had shaken the entire area, prompting her to visit the site to pay her respects.

"Bundoora is a safe place, lots of young people live here," she said. Ms Hanley left two notes at the scene, as well as a bunch of roses. One note reads: "Everyone had the right to get home safely." The other says: "My heart aches that you were not safe in our community. You are loved - Bundoora family." Monique Hanley laid flowers and a note where Ms Maasarwe's body was found. Credit:Paul Jeffers La Trobe University spokeswoman Claire Bowers said the academic community and student were shaken by the death.

"There's a whole range of support services including counselling available," Ms Bowers said. She said students could also contact Uni-Safe Escort Services if they felt unsafe and wanted to be walked by security to their car or public transport. with Aimee Amiga