Staff and students at the Australian National University are reeling from a savage attack on campus yesterday.

The ANU will increase safety measures, but senior staff insist that it was an isolated event. Students, however, say they are concerned about the incident.

Two women students are still in hospital after they were stabbed yesterday afternoon. One is in a critical condition.

The accused, 24-year-old Alex Ophel, has been charged with attempted murder.

Mr Ophel allegedly also hit a male student on the head with a frying pan, and punched another in the face. The two male students are still on campus.

Two of the students were Australian domestic students, and two were international students.

The crimes took place in the heart of campus, at lunchtime. The first attacks took place on Fellows Oval; the attacker then proceeded towards the students’ union area.

The whole incident took less than 30 minutes, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sally Wheeler, said.

Six years ago, Mr Ophel, a former ANU student, had tried to kill his tutor and classmates with a baseball bat, but was found not guilty due to mental impairment (schizophrenia).

Professor Wheeler said the university had not been aware in advance of any threat to the community.

Some students and staff stopped to render assistance or shepherded people away from danger, offered first aid on the scene, or phoned emergency services.

“These individuals represent the very best people,” Professor Wheeler said. “We are a place that looks after each other. I and the rest of the university leadership are very grateful to them for their bravery.”

The ANU will acknowledge and honour those people at an appropriate time, she said.

Professor Wheeler thanked the prompt action of the security team, police, and emergency services, “without which this incident might have been even worse”.

First responders were on the scene quickly, she observed: ANU security, ACT Policing, and the ambulance service had the situation under control, “apprehending the perpetrator quickly and ensuring that matters did not deteriorate”.

“Yesterday was challenging, but this is an isolated and extremely rare event,” Professor Wheeler said.

The ANU will “ramp up” its security infrastructure and processes, including cameras, Unisafe officers, patrols, lighting, emergency phones, and contact points. There will be additional patrols around campus.

The university has opened a drop-in hub for staff and students; it will offer advice on accessing support, assessment adjustment for students, and access to mental health services.

Ben Yates, president of the ANU Students’ Association, urged students to look after each other and seek support if they need it.

“Yesterday was a terrifying act of violence,” Mr Yates said.

“As students, we are all thinking of the injured students, their friends, their family, and we’re wishing those students a fast, speedy recovery. Students need to be able to feel safe on campus. This is where they study; it’s where they learn; for many students, it’s also where they live. Many students are upset and angry about the incident yesterday.”

Mr Yates said students resented and felt threatened. Their anger was directed both towards the perpetrator and at the fact that they had not been safe on campus.

“There’ll be conversations to come about how students can feel safe on campus.”