A 20-Year-Old Man Arrested In Connection With Israeli Student’s Murder in Melbourne

A gruesome murder of a young Israeli student has sent shockwaves through Melbourne, Australia. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Aiia Maasarwe who was an exchange student at the La Trobe University. The body which was partially covered in bushes was found on Wednesday near a shopping center in Bundoora close to her apartment. Bundoora is a suburb which is about 16 kilometers from Melbourne.

At the time of the assault, Aiia Maasarwe was on a call with her younger sister. The police also released footage of Aiia at a tram stop on Tuesday night. She was returning to her apartment which is near the University campus after a comedy show.

The Police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with her murder. He was arrested in Greensborough on Friday morning which was a joint operation by the local police and homicide detectives. "Our presumption at this stage is that this was a random attack and opportunistic," Inspector Andrew Stamper told reporters on Thursday. No further details have been revealed as of now.

The Police had earlier discovered a t-shirt and a cap that was found 100 meters from the crime scene and it is believed that they were left by Aiia Maasarwe’s killer. According to detective Andrew Stamper, “This was an absolutely horrendous, horrific attack that was committed against an innocent young woman.”

Meanwhile, the La Trobe University was “shocked and saddened” by the incident. The University released a statement stating, “La Trobe University is committed to providing a safe university environment. On campus, we undertake a range of activities to improve personal and physical safety and our security has been intensified as a result of this incident. The statement read, "We are committed to continuing to work closely with all relevant authorities to address these serious community issues around public safety and violence against women."

Aiia Maasarwe’s father Saeed Maasarwe arrived in Australia on Thursday to identify his daughter’s body. He also visited the site where her body was found. Speaking of his daughter, Saeed Maasarwe said that she was “all the time smiling,” and an opinionated, clever woman who loved to study and explore new cultures. He even had plans of holidaying with her at the end of the month.

A similar incident occurred last June when 22-year-old comedian Eurydice Dixon was raped and killed while walking home after a performance. Another Irish woman by the name of Jill Meagher was raped and murdered while walking home from a pub in Brunswick on 22 September 2012. Both the murders sparked immense anger and prompted mass rallies. The recent killings have shocked many in Melbourne which is considered one of the safest cities in the world.

Mourners will gather this evening for a silent vigil on the steps of Victorian Parliament in honor of Aiia Maasarwe. The Israeli Embassy would also be assisting the family in returning Aiia Maasarwe’s body to Israel.