Almunthir Daqamah charged over Surrey crossbow attack

Almunthir Daqamah, 21, has been charged after a University of Surrey staff member was shot with a crossbow at Manor Park Student Village in Guildford on Thursday. He faces attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon, two counts of possession of a bladed article and possession of Class B drugs.

Police said the injured campus safety officer, who is in his 50s, remains in a stable condition in hospital. Daqamah has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Guildford Magistrates' Court later.

Surrey Police and Guildford

Chief Superintendent Jon Groenen said, "There is nothing to suggest this incident is terror-related and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it." He also said, "We know how concerning this incident is, both for the University community and for local residents here in Guildford, and our officers are working at pace to establish the full circumstances of what occurred."

Groenen added, "We continue to work closely with the University and at this time. I would ask people to refrain from speculating online to preserve the integrity of the investigation." That instruction puts the focus on the criminal case now moving through Surrey Police and the courts, not on online rumours around the attack.

University of Surrey campus response

A University of Surrey spokesperson said, "We have been informed that our colleague is now in a stable condition and our entire community is relieved to hear this news. We wish him a full and speedy recovery." The same spokesperson said, "We also want to take this opportunity to thank our Campus safety team. They responded with professionalism and courage to this incident, and their commitment to keeping this community safe is something we are deeply proud of."

Students described the campus as shaken after the attack. Liv Harvey said, "We're all very shaken. It's a very close community here." Alan Jomy said the campus was "in shock," and Mia Lamb said, "You don't really expect to see this on a university campus."

Guildford Magistrates' Court later

The immediate next step is Daqamah's appearance at Guildford Magistrates' Court later, with police still treating the case as a single-accused investigation. The victim's stable condition means the university community is now watching the court process while the campus safety team returns to its work under the weight of Thursday's attack.