Austria stabbing newest: Boy, 14, dies after knife assault in Villach leaves 4 wounded
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A 14-year-old boy has been killed after a man stabbed five people at random in Austria.
Authorities said the suspect – a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria – has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker’s personal background.
The victims were all men aged between 14 and and 32. Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries.
“A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife,” police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP.
Police said it wasn’t clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.
The incident happened on Saturday just before 4pm local time in the centre of the city in southern Austria.
Delivery driver witnessed attack
A 42-year old man who works for a food delivery company, witnessed the incident from his car.
He drove toward the suspect to stop the attack from escalating, police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF.
“This meant that we were able to arrest [the suspect] immediately,” he said.
Watch: Teenage boy dies and four injured in knife attack in Austria
Interior Minister had visit planned for Sunday
Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was expected in Villach on Sunday morning, according to Austria’s public broadcaster ORF.
It is unclear whether this visit is still going ahead.
Austrian Conservative party leader issues statement
Conservative party leader Christian Stocker said on the X social media platform that the attacker “must be brought to justice and be punished with the full force of the law.”
“We all want to live in a safe Austria, adding that this means political measures need to be taken to “avoid such acts of horror in the future,” he said.
Where is Villach?
Villach is a city in southern Austria in the state of Carinthia.
It is known for its carnival and is in an area that is a tourist hotspot in the summer as it includes one of Austria’s most famous lakes but otherwise attracts little attention.
“I have been in the (Carinthian police) press service for 20 years and cannot recall such an act,” Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told national broadcaster ORF.
Full story: Teenager dead and four injured after ‘random’ knife attack in Villach, Austria
A 14-year-old boy has been killed after a man stabbed five people at random in Austria.
Authorities said the suspect – a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria – has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the attacker’s personal background.
“We have to wait until we get secure information,” he said, adding that a man “randomly attacked passers-by with a knife”.
Two seriously injured
Five people were stabbed in the attack – with one 14-year-old boy having been killed.
The victims were all men aged between 14 and and 32.
Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries.
Pictured: Police at scene of attack
Villach city council issues statement
The city council of Villach has released a statement following the attack in the city.
Mayor Günther Albel strongly condemned the attack, according to broadcasters ORF.
“Today in Villach we are confronted with the worst that could have happened,” he said.
The council called for measures at the federal level
Source: independent.co.uk
