MOMENA Shoma had just arrived in Australia when she allegedly stabbed one of the members of a host family she was staying with.

The 24-year-old from Bangladesh was reportedly wearing a black burqa when she attacked one of the members of a Melbourne family as he slept next to his five-year-old daughter.

She has been charged with engaging in a terrorist act and it’s alleged she was inspired by terror group Islamic State.

According to the Herald Sun, the 56-year-old man and his family regularly hosted international university students at their Mill Park home in Melbourne’s north-east. He had agreed to take in the young woman, who was registered to study a language course at La Trobe University.

Shoma had only been in the country for a day when she allegedly stabbed the father in the neck and shoulder as he took a nap on Friday afternoon.

He reportedly woke up to a sharp pain and realised he was lying in a pool of blood. He rang his neighbours, who came to his assistance.

Those neighbours, Mustafa and his wife Safia, have been hailed as heroes as they rushed over to his home in Mill Park and helped restrain his attacker.

“Roger called us and just said: ‘Run, run, run, I’ve been stabbed’,” Safia told the Herald Sun.

She said they found their neighbour sitting on a plastic white chair in his garage surrounded by blood.

“I saw all the blood, it was shocking. I saw so much blood,” Safia said. “I was shocked, I’m still shaken. It was terrible.”

You can read more details at the Herald Sun.

Police believe Shoma had been self-radicalised and there is no other threat.

“I’m led to believe she was wearing a black burqa (at the time),” Victoria’s Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Ross Guenther told reporters on Saturday.

Shoma faced Melbourne Magistrates Court for a brief hearing on Saturday and did not apply for bail. She appeared in a blue jumper with her black hair tied back and the court heard she had suffered an injury to her hand.

“We will allege she was ISIS-inspired,” Australian Federal Police’s acting Deputy Commissioner of National Security Ian McCartney said.

Her victim is in a serious but stable condition after receiving surgery at Royal Melbourne Hospital on Saturday.

A statement released by his family described it as an “upsetting time”.

“At this time our focus is on our the welfare of our family and his recovery,” the statement said.

“We would like to offer our thanks to our family, friendly neighbours and emergency services for their support and kindness.

“This is a very upsetting time and we ask that our privacy is respected to allow time to heal.”

Shoma was remanded in custody to return to court on May 2.

— With AAP