A BURNLEY family have been left in shock after a relative witnessed an horrific machete attack on a female student.

Ibrahim Ali, who owns the Usher restaurant in Rossendale Road, and his wife Rushada, have been calling their family in Bangladesh after a nephew was caught up in the terrifying incident.

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Syed Rahin Ali, 23, is studying a business and economics degree at Murari Chand University College in the Sylhet district.

He was coming out of an exam when he saw fellow student Khadija Akhtar Nargis, 25, being attacked by Badrul Alam, 27, after she rejected him.

Mr Rahin said he thought it was a terror attack and students were running around screaming.

Gruesome footage of the incident filmed by some of the students has appeared on social media.

Badrul has since admitted trying to kill Khadija, a Sylhet Government Women's College student, in court.

He has been sacked from his job as a part-time teacher and suspended as assistant secretary of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology unit of the ruling Awami League's student wing.

Meanwhile Khadija remains in a critical condition on a ventilator after undergoing surgery at Square Hospitals, in Dhaka.

Doctors have given her a "five to 10 per cent" chance of survival after the machete went through her skull several times, injuring her brain. She also suffered cut injuries to her hands and legs.

Mr Ali's daughter Anisha, 17, was planning to spend her gap year in the district but, following the vicious attack, he has decided not to let her go.

Mr Ali, who two other daughters Ayesha, 16, and Aqeela, nine, said: "The moment we heard the name of the college, my wife went ballistic as she knew her nephew was there. We just started him up. She kept saying call your grandad and go home. Just the thought of a knife attack and with all the terrorist attacks happening, we just thought the worst.

"As a family we are devastated and scared of what is happening. It is scary to think my Anisha was going to spend her gap year there.

"We have taken that out of our plans now. As a father I am scared of what is happening there. My father is still there and so are my in laws. We have been constantly on the phone for the safety of our nephew. We just want him back. Our prayers are with the Khadija family."

Mr Rahin, from Aberdeen, said: "She came in for the exam and on arrival she found Badrul waiting for her with a bottle of water. She ignored him and did not take the water.

"She finished the exam at 5pm and as she was coming out, he attacked her non stop. I was coming out with my friends and we heard a lot of screaming and shouting.

"I rushed closer and saw something I can't even dream of. I am from Aberdeen were things like this only happen in movies.

"He was not even looking at us, he just carried on stabbing. All I did was freeze for a bit. I was scared and then I ran as everyone was doing the same. I wish I could say or do something but I guess where I'm from its not thinkable anything like this."