A 23-year-old Bangladeshi student who is in a critical condition following a violent home invasion in Darwin was attacked in his bed by an alleged intruder in what police have described as a "random event".
The alleged attack on the international student in the early hours of Wednesday morning has shocked the tight-knit community at Charles Darwin University, with its Vice Chancellor saying he had a "feeling of guilt" over previously portraying the Northern Territory capital as a safe place to study.
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Northern Territory Police Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said housemates of the victim found the student with "apparent head trauma" in his bed, after chasing the alleged intruder out of the property.
They then drove the student to the Royal Darwin Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
"His family have been notified and remain with him at hospital," Senior Sergeant Morrissey said.
Police apprehended a 29-year-old man in relation to the incident nearby, allegedly sitting in a vehicle with items from the victim's premises inside.
He is yet to be charged with an offence.
"It's believed he's unknown to any of the residents of the premises and it doesn't appear to be connected to the location," Senior Sergeant Morrissey said.
He said forensic teams remained at the property in the Darwin suburb of Millner, and it remained an active crime scene.
Vice-Chancellor expresses shock at alleged attack
Charles Darwin University (CDU) Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman told ABC Radio the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, had rocked the community.
"There's absolute grief for this young man and his condition, there's bewilderment ," Professor Bowman said.
"Some [students] have said 'if we go out to pub or a nightclub or even out on the street, we know to be careful'.
"But [for this] to happen in your own bed … there's anger there as well."
Professor Bowman said the university had set up a number of places for students to stay overnight, with an overwhelming number wanting to take turns sitting outside the student's hospital room.
"Everybody’s desperate to do something, but there’s not an awful lot we can do," Professor Bowman said.
Professor Bowman said a number of the student's extended family arrived in Darwin last night, with the university working to get his parents to Darwin from Bangladesh.
He said he has "a feeling of guilt" after selling Darwin as a safe destination for international students.
"The student and his parents, I would have met them last year when I was in Bangladesh," Professor Bowman said.
"One of the things we put right at the top of the list is it's safe."
Students hold an anti-violence vigil
CDU's Bangladeshi Student Association (BSACDU) on Thursday afternoon held an anti-violence demonstration, in support of their fellow student.
Hundreds of students turned out for the peaceful demonstration, many holding signs bearing messages such as "safe accommodation" and "pray for him".
In a statement read out by a spokesperson, BSACDU called for stronger safety measures for international students.
"We are united in our belief that every student, community member and individual deserves to feel safe and secure, both on and off campus," the statement said.
BSACDU called for secure housing options and safer transport for international students, as well as improved security measures on campus.
"We urge the Northern Territory government to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of all."
In an emotional interview on ABC Radio Darwin on Thursday morning, association member M D Ehsan said the incident was "devastating" and "shocking" for the Bangladeshi community.
"He just started his degree in engineering … [this] just happened in his own bedroom while he was sleeping," he said.
Mr Ehsan said the community was also supporting the student's roommates who were in the house at the time of the alleged attack.
"[They're] not in a good mental condition," he said.
"They're shaking and they want to go back home."
Police said on Wednesday they were called to the student's home on Trower Road in Millner about 4.30am, where an "unknown man" had broken in.
The alleged home invader attacked the student, leaving him with, "significant injuries" before fleeing the scene.
A 29-year-old man was arrested shortly after and remains in custody.
The alleged victim remains in a critical condition in hospital.
NT Police Minister Kate Worden said police were "actively pursuing" the investigation into the incident.
"We need to give [police] the room and space to do that properly," she said.
