AN FORMER student at the University of Nottingham's Malaysian campus says he was shocked by a machete attack on another student.

Sarankan Sriskandarajah, 22, died on Sunday after the attack at a restaurant just outside the campus last Wednesday.

David Marsden, 22, who studied at the university in 2005 and 2006, said the area always seemed safe.

"Something like this comes as a great shock. I studied there in the opening year of the campus.

"It is fantastic, the campus is walled and there is CCTV and guards are patrolling at all times. It's so unfortunate that this happened just outside the campus."

Mr Marsden, who now lives in Nottingham and works in finance, spent the second year of his degree in business management with Asian studies at the Malaysian campus.

He added: "I certainly hope the Malaysian police and the university work together to try and catch these people. I am sure that they will do."

It is believed that the attack may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Sarankan and his friends were having a meal at The Forest bar and restaurant in Taman Tasik Semenyih, a short drive from the university, when a gang wielding machetes stormed in and started attacking the customers, a university spokesman said.

Security has since been tightened at the campus as a precaution and police are increasing their presence in the area.