A former student has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a campus safety officer was shot with a crossbow at the University of Surrey. Almunthir Daqamah, 21, is accused of shooting Robert Tytler, a campus safety officer in his 50s, after being told to leave a student village in Guildford on Thursday morning.
Mr Tytler remains in hospital in a stable condition. The prosecutor, Lucy Lumsden, told Guildford magistrates court that the bolt 'thankfully and miraculously missed all his organs and bowel'. Daqamah, a Saudi national of no fixed address, was also found in possession of a zombie-style knife, a lock knife, and a quantity of marijuana, the court heard.
Daqamah has been charged with attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon, two counts of possession of a bladed article, and possession of class B drugs. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Guildford crown court on 9 July.
Students described being 'very shaken' by the incident, which occurred around 10am on Thursday. Chief Superintendent Jon Groenen urged the public not to speculate online and to contact police with any information. A university spokesperson expressed relief that their colleague is in a stable condition and thanked the campus safety team for their professionalism and courage.
