2023 Australian National University stabbing
On 18 September 2023, an attack occurred at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Four people were assaulted during the incident, including two 20-year-old female students who were seriously injured. A 24-year-old man, Alex Ophel, was arrested shortly afterwards and subsequently charged with two counts of attempted [...] and other offences.
Background
Alex Ophel had previously been a student at the Australian National University.
In August 2017, Ophel attacked people during a statistics class at the university. He was charged with five counts of attempted [...] and was found not guilty by reason of mental impairment in 2019.
Following the earlier case, Ophel was detained and received psychiatric treatment. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
By 2023, Ophel was being held at the Gawanggal mental-health facility in Canberra. On 18 September, he was permitted to leave the facility for a period of authorised day leave.
Later court proceedings heard that Ophel was suffering from severe, chronic and treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Attack
At approximately 2:40 p.m. on 18 September 2023, Ophel was near Fellows Oval on the ANU campus.
He initially attacked a male student, striking him on the head with a frying pan. The student escaped and ran from the area.
Ophel then approached a 20-year-old female student who was sitting beneath a tree and attacked her with a knife. He subsequently chased another 20-year-old female student and attacked her. A second male student was also assaulted.
Police received the first emergency call at approximately 2:45 p.m. Officers arrived at the university and arrested Ophel several minutes later. Police said there was no continuing threat to the campus and that no other suspects were being sought.
The Two women were taken to hospital. One was initially in a critical condition, while the other was in a stable condition. The two male victims suffered injuries but did not require hospitalisation.
One of the seriously injured students was later identified as Ilysha Perry, a second-year ANU student. Both hospitalised victims were discharged by October 2023.
Police said shortly After the Attack that they had not identified a motive and did not believe Ophel knew any of the victims.
Aftermath
Following the attack, areas surrounding Fellows Oval were closed while police investigated. ANU advised students and staff to avoid the area and offered support services to members of the university community.
It was later revealed that Ophel had been on authorised leave from the Gawanggal mental health facility when the attack occurred. Staff at the facility reported him missing after he failed to return from leave, by which time he had already been arrested.
The circumstances of the attack prompted an ACT government review of the territory's mental health system. The review produced 35 recommendations concerning mental health services and the management of forensic patients.
Legal proceedings
Ophel appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on 19 September 2023. He was charged with two counts of attempted [...], two counts of assault and an additional weapons-related offence. He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.
The proceedings were delayed while psychiatric assessments were conducted. In March 2024, his lawyers indicated that he would plead not guilty on the grounds of mental impairment. In July, he was committed to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
A special hearing was held in December 2025. Psychiatric evidence presented to the court found that Ophel suffered from severe, chronic and treatment-resistant schizophrenia and had been experiencing psychotic symptoms at the time of the attack.
On 18 December, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum found Ophel not guilty by reason of mental impairment on two counts of attempted [...] and two counts of assault. A nominated life sentence was imposed, with Ophel to remain detained in a secure mental health facility.