Desk
Share
Villach, Austria – A 23-year-old man went on a stabbing spree in southern Austria on Saturday, randomly attacking six passersby and leaving a 14-year-old dead. Five others sustained injuries in the incident, police confirmed.
The suspect, a Syrian national with legal residency in Austria, was apprehended in Villach, the city where the attack occurred. Authorities have not yet determined a motive and are currently investigating the attacker's background.
“We need to wait for verified information before drawing conclusions,” police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said.
Bystander Intervenes to Prevent Further Violence
A 42-year-old food delivery worker, who witnessed the attack from his car, intervened by driving toward the suspect, helping to prevent further casualties, Dionisio told Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
The victims, all male, include two individuals who were seriously injured, while three others sustained minor wounds.
Political Leaders Condemn the Attack
Peter Kaiser, Governor of Carinthia, extended condolences to the victim’s family, calling the attack an "outrageous atrocity" that must have "serious consequences."
Far-right leader Herbert Kickl expressed his outrage, blaming Austria’s immigration policies for increasing violent crimes. "This horrific act in Villach is a direct result of political failure," he stated on social media, advocating for stricter asylum laws.
Christian Stocker, leader of the conservative party, emphasized the need for swift justice. "This attacker must be punished with the full force of the law. We all deserve to live in a safe Austria," he wrote.
Social Democrat leader Andreas Babler echoed similar sentiments, stressing that such crimes "should not happen in our society" and calling for strict legal action.
Authorities Continue Investigation
Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was expected to visit Villach on Sunday. Authorities have planned a public mourning area in the city center for those who wish to pay their respects.
Police are still investigating whether the suspect acted alone and are searching for any potential accomplices. It remains unclear if there was any connection between the attacker and his victims.
Rising Concerns Over Migration Policies
Austria has seen a significant decrease in asylum applications over the past two years. While over 100,000 applications were filed in 2022, the number dropped to around 59,000 in 2023, and 24,941 in 2024. Syrians remain the largest group of applicants.
Last December, Austria and several European countries suspended asylum decisions for Syrian nationals due to ongoing political instability in their homeland. The issue of migration continues to be a contentious topic, influencing recent elections across Europe.
Similar Incidents Raise Alarm in Germany
Meanwhile, in neighboring Germany, a separate attack has added to concerns over public safety. On Saturday, police reported that a 2-year-old girl and her mother succumbed to injuries sustained in a car-ramming attack during a labor union demonstration in Munich. The incident is one of several attacks involving immigrants in Germany over the past nine months, fueling heated debates on migration policies ahead of the country’s upcoming elections on February 23.
Authorities in Austria and Germany continue to investigate both attacks as tensions over security and immigration rise across Europe.
