UPDATE 3.34PM: A VIDEO posted on social media just days before a British backpacker was fatally stabbed to death at a Home Hill hostel shows a young woman with dirt smeared across her forehead, singing to loud music as she drives through harvested cane fields.

A huge smile is plastered across her weary but happy face.

British national Mia Ayliffe Chung, 21, could have been any adventure-loving traveller, enjoying a working holiday in Australia.

media_camera Mia Ayliffe-Chung

But the young traveller died after she was repeatedly stabbed by a 29-year-old French man yelling “Allahu Akbar” about 11.15pm at Home Hill Backpackers on Ninth St in Home Hill on Tuesday night.

A 30-year-old man, also a British national, was critically injured and a 46-year-old local man was also wounded.

Bizarrely, a dog was also fatally stabbed by the French man.

The frenzied attack was in stark contrast to Ms Chung’s previous days working in the Burdekin.

Seemingly carefree, the young backpacker posted about close encounters with North Queensland’s creepy crawlies, the hot sun and shared photographs of her grease-covered jeans after long days of farm work.

Her Facebook profile says she has studied psychology and childcare in the UK and she normally resides on the Gold Coast.

But she has called Home Hill home for at least a week, posting regular updates since arriving.

“Day one, done! Only 87 left to do. Today we were in sugar canes. Feeling like a little Jamaican again. Saw about 5 small spiders, 4 poisonous toads and 3 geckos. Not too shabby of a day,” she wrote on August 19.

Friends of the young woman shared heartfelt messages on social media yesterday as news broke of her death.

Ms Ayliffe-Chung had previously worked at The Bedroom nightclub in Surfers Paradise but had come to the Burdekin to do rural work so she could extend her working holiday visa in Australia.

The Bedroom is planning to close tonight out of respect as her shocked colleagues come to terms with her death.

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UPDATE 3.30PM: Forensic officers remain at the scene however the crime scene tape has been removed.

Many of the resident backpackers have descended on the local pub to offer each other comfort.

No charges have been laid and a French man accused of stabbing three people is in a stable condition at the Townsville Hospital.

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UPDATE 2.10PM: A British man stabbed during a violent attack at a Home Hill backpackers hostel remains in a critical condition at the Townsville Hospital. A 29-year-old French man accused of stabbing three people and a dog while yelling “Allahu Akbar” is in a stable condition.

A 21-year-old British woman was killed during the frenzied attack, which occurred about 11.15pm last night.

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UPDATE 1.30PM: Burdekin MP Dale Last has expressed his condolences and called for calm following the violent and fatal stabbing in Home Hill.

media_camera Member for Burdekin Dale Last.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families; and also those foreign visitors who have been caught up in this incident,” Mr Last said.

“Residents and visitors to the Burdekin have nothing to fear and they should continue to feel safe in our towns.

“I have spoken with the Police Minister (Bill Byrne) this morning and am calling for calm during the ensuing police investigations.

“It’s important that cool heads prevail while the police get to the bottom of this incident and also that factual evidence is reported so as not to cause further angst and alarm within our community.”

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UPDATE 12.45PM: The British High Commission has sent staff to Townsville.

“We are working with local authorities and providing support to the families after one British national was killed and another critically injured in an incident in Australia,” a spokeswoman said.

“Our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time.”

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UPDATE 12.15PM: POLICE have confirmed a Frenchman accused of a stabbing frenzy at a Home Hill backpackers yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the violent incident and as he was taken in to custody.

The man was heard saying the phrase, which means God is great in Arabic, by witnesses and it was also captured by police body cameras during his arrest.

QPS Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said investigators would examine whether the comments were made as a result of extremist motives but could not yet rule out whether mental health issues or drug use were factors in the crime.

Watch August 2016 Press Conferences on @Livestream: https://t.co/CajbTS6uhJ — Samantha Healy (@samantha_healy) August 24, 2016

“While this information will be factored into the investigation we are not ruling out any motivations at this stage, whether they be political or criminal,” he said.

Police said the man did not appear to have any ties to Islamic State.

A Bristish woman, 21, was killed in the incident at Home Hill Backpackers on Ninth St and a 30-year-old British man remains in a critical condition in Townsville Hospital. No charges have been laid at this stage.

A 46-year-old local man was also injured but has since been released from hospital.

media_camera A man is helped at the scene.

A dog was also killed in the violent rampage and the French man, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, remains under police guard in Townsville Hospital.

“This is not about race or religion but about individual criminal behavior,” he said.

“He (the French man) is a visitor to Australia and appears to have no known local connections.

“There is no ongoing threat to the community.

“We are not ruling out any motivations at this stage. We wish to reassure the community - we are not looking for anyone else.

“It was a shocking attack by any standards - motivations unclear, investigation in its infancy.”

Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski confirmed the attacker shouted about Allah both “during the attack and when arrested by police”.

Police are classing it as a murder investigation, but the Australian Federal Police, Attorney General’s department and Australian Border Force have been brought in.

Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said at this stage there was no evidence of radicalisation at this stage, but all options were being considered.

“The investigation is happening right now so we don’t have clarity,” he said.

“We could be dealing with a pure criminal act or something related to mental health or drug issues,” he said.

The AFP confirmed the French national was lawfully in Australia on a temporary visa and was not known to police.

He is understood to have arrived in the Queensland in March.

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UPDATE 11.30am: A FRENCH national accused of killing a British backpacker and wounding another allegedly shouted about Allah during the stabbing frenzy.

Australian Federal Police are now involved in the investigation, with police expected to examine whether the man – who had been in the country several months – has any link to terror organisations.

Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski and AFP Commander Sharon Cowden will update the media at noon.

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UPDATE 10.40am: Police have revealed that two British nationals were allegedly stabbed by a French man at a backpackers hostel in Home Hill last night.

A woman, 21, was killed, and a man, 30, was treated for a stab wound to his leg.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder of the Townsville Police said officers were taking statements from about 30 witnesses.

“We are still trying to piece together what has happened,” he said. “We don’t have a motive yet.

“Police have been in contact with the British consulate who will liaise with the victim’s families.

“Police have taken possession of a knife which is believed to have been the implement used in the stabbing incident.

“A 29-year-old French National man is currently assisting police with their enquiries into the stabbing incident.”

Supt Rohweder praised the first police responders, saying the scene was a confronting one.

He said the alleged attacker complied with police requests to get on the ground and was quickly taken in to custody.

The Frenchman had been in Australia for several months, he said.

“We have also been in contact with British consular officials (regarding the two alleged victims).”

Police have been in contact with the British consulate who will liaise with the victim's families. #HomeHill — QPS Media Unit (@QPSmedia) August 24, 2016

We're working w local authorities & providing support to the families of the British citizens affected following #HomeHill attack. (1/2) — UK in Australia (@ukinaustralia) August 24, 2016

media_camera Police are investigating after two Bristish backpackers were allegedly stabbed, one to death, by a French tourist at hostel in Home Hill. A police officer is seen speaking to one of the guests.

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UPDATE 10AM: The small rural town of Home Hill is in shock after a woman was stabbed to death and man was critically injured in an incident last night.

Burdekin Shire Mayor Lyn McLaughlin, who was briefed by police this morning, has extended sympathies to the families of the victims involved.

“This is a tragic and very sad incident to have occurred in our small, peaceful and safe community of Home Hill,” she said.

“I want to assure residents that they are safe and that police are conducting a full

investigation into what has occurred.

“As a sign of our sympathy for the victims, Council will fly its flag at Chambers at half mast

today.”

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Forensic crews have arrived at backpackers hostel in Home Hill after double stabbing. A woman is dead, man critical. pic.twitter.com/1abyKfjd5O — Chris McMahon (@ChrisTheJourno1) August 23, 2016

EARLIER: POLICE will spend today gathering evidence after a woman was stabbed to death in Home Hill.

At around 11:15pm last night police were called to a backpacker hostel on Ninth Street following reports a person had been assaulted with a knife.

On arrival police secured the scene and took a man into custody.

A woman was found dead and another man was taken to Townsville Base Hospital in a critical condition.

Investigators believe no other people were involved in the incident.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.