A 21-year-old exchange student has been killed in a "horrific attack" in Melbourne, Australia, police said -- a city consistently ranked among the world's safest places to live.
Victoria Police said the victim, Israeli national Aiia Maasarwe, appeared to have been "seriously assaulted."
The La Trobe University student's body was found partially clothed in bushes early Wednesday in Bundoora, a suburb about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Melbourne's center, CNN affiliate Nine News Australia reported.
Maasarwe was talking on the phone to her sister, who was overseas, when the attack happened, police said. The sister then alerted authorities.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said Thursday that further details about her injuries would not be revealed out of respect for her family.
"This was an absolutely horrendous, horrific attack that was committed against an innocent young woman," he said.
Investigators believe a T-shirt and cap found in bushes about 100 meters (330 feet) from the crime scene were left by Maasarwe's killer.
Stamper said the clothing was "key to solving this crime."
"Somebody in the community knows who did this. Somebody's come home on Tuesday night or in the early hours of Wednesday morning, maybe with blood on them, missing items of clothing," he said. "Somebody knows about this and we need help."
The shirt and cap found by authorities.
La Trobe University said its community was "shocked and saddened."
"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 school said in a statement.
"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."
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