Atlantic Point Backpackers is a tourist favorite on Cape Town's Atlantic coast.
Atlantic Point Backpackers / Facebook
- A backpacker was stabbed to death in Cape Town early Friday morning.
- One man is believed to have been stabbed to death after an argument broke out between two men on Thursday night.
- Police arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
Western Cape Police arrested a 27-year-old man on Friday morning on suspicion of murdering a 23-year-old man at the popular Atlantic Point Backpackers on Cavalcade Road in Green Point, Cape Town.
National Tourism Crisis Communications spokeswoman Natalia Rosa said she was saddened by the tragic incident that claimed the life of an “American guest.”
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Rosa could not confirm to News24 whether the two were tourists or whether they held U.S. passports or U.S. residency.
She said a confrontation between the two occurred at Backpackers on Thursday night, but it was resolved with police intervention.
But early Friday morning, tensions rose again.
“And yet [the conflict] Things seemed to go smoothly, but the next morning, February 9th, tensions tragically flared up again in the guest kitchen. ”
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Rosa said: “Despite the accommodation staff's attempts to calmly de-escalate the situation, the altercation ended in a devastating way, with one of the guests stabbing the other with a kitchen knife.'' ” he said.
She added that she immediately contacted authorities and police arrested the culprit.
“Staff at the backpacker accommodation are cooperating fully with the police investigation. Trauma counseling is being provided to guests and staff affected by this horrific event,” Rosa said.
“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased at this very difficult time. Further details will be provided by the authorities leading the investigation.”
Meanwhile, Western Cape police said the possible motive behind the deadly attack was an altercation.
“The knife has been handed over as an exhibit. The arrested suspect will appear before the Cape Town magistrate on Monday,” spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said.
Justin Witbooi from Taurus Medical EMS told News24 that upon arriving at the scene, ambulance crew and bystanders were performing CPR.
“Our ALS response unit responded to a request for assistance from the Western Cape Government Health Metro Ambulance to facilitate CPR,” Witbooy added.
“When we arrived at the scene, we found that CPR was already being performed on a male patient who had sustained a stab wound to the chest.
“Despite all efforts to control the bleeding and resuscitation with extensive advanced life support, the patient was pronounced dead.”
Greenpoint ward councilor Ian McMahon said the incident was deeply worrying and had left the community in shambles.
“We call on the police to investigate and report the details of the incident. The unsubstantiated chatter that this incident took place between two backpacking tourists has not yet come to light,” he said.