Canberra, Dec 2 (IANS): A Melbourne man was taken into custody on Friday for stabbing to death a French tourist in the Australian outback, reports said.

The French tourist, travelling through the northern outback with his wife, was killed by Pande Veleski on Wednesday, Xinhua news reported.

Detective Superintendent Travis Wurst of the Northern Territory Police said the fatal attack took place at Connor Well, a truck stop, approximately 100 km north of the small city of Alice Springs.

"It is believed that the French couple were at a rest stop, on the Stuart Highway when they were approached by the attacker," Wurst said in comments published in Friday's newspapers.

"Veleski allegedly then stabbed the man on his neck, in an unprovoked attack. He died on spot," Wurst said.

Wurst said the wife was undergoing treatment for shock at the Alice Springs Hospital, where Veleski was also being monitored under police custody.

According to the French consulate-general, the French government is continuing to provide ongoing support to the victim's family.