23-year-old stabs 6 in Austria, killing teen in 'random attack'
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Smiling, the 23-year-old Syrian national accused of randomly stabbing five people in Villach, Austria, killing a 14-year-old boy.
Vienna: A 23-year-old man carried out a stabbing attack in southern Austria on Saturday, killing a 14-year-old and injuring five others in what police have described as a random attack. The attack took place in the city of Villach, where the suspect, a Syrian national with legal residence in Austria, was later detained.
Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the attack and are investigating the suspect’s personal background. Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio stated that further details would only be available once secure information is obtained.
Among those who witnessed the attack was a 42-year-old food delivery worker, who, according to police, used his vehicle to intervene and prevent further casualties. The victims, all men, included two individuals who sustained serious injuries, while two others had minor wounds. Later in the day, police confirmed a fifth man was also injured.
Peter Kaiser, governor of Austria’s Carinthia province, extended his condolences to the family of the 14-year-old victim, condemning the violence and emphasizing the necessity for firm consequences. He reiterated that those living in Austria must respect the country’s laws and values.
Far-right leader Herbert Kickl expressed outrage over the attack, criticizing politicians for what he described as systemic failures that have led to a rise in violent crime, including stabbings, rapes, and gang-related violence. In a statement on the X social media platform, Kickl claimed Austria’s immigration policies have contributed to such incidents, asserting that "we need a rigorous crackdown on asylum and must not continue to import conditions like those in Villach." He linked the issue to broader European Union policies, which he argued are beyond challenge and require fundamental change.
Christian Stocker, leader of the Conservative Party, called for swift justice, stating that the attacker must face the full extent of the law. He emphasized the need for political action to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Social Democrat leader Andreas Babler echoed this sentiment, stressing that such crimes should have no place in society and must be met with severe legal consequences.
Austria's Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, is scheduled to visit Villach on Sunday morning. Authorities plan to establish a designated area in the city center for those wishing to grieve.
Meanwhile, police have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects and continue to investigate any potential connections between the attacker and the victims.
According to the Interior Ministry, 24,941 foreigners applied for asylum in Austria in 2024, with the largest number of applicants coming from Syria, followed by Afghanistan. The country has seen a significant decline in asylum applications over the past two years, down from a peak of over 100,000 in 2022 to approximately 59,000 in 2023. In December, Austria, along with several other European nations, suspended asylum decisions for Syrian nationals due to political uncertainties following the fall of Bashar Assad.
Migration remains a central political issue across Europe, with far-right parties gaining momentum in elections. In Austria, the topic dominated the national election campaign last year, contributing to the far-right Freedom Party’s victory, its first since World War II.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Germany, police reported that a 2-year-old girl and her mother died on Saturday, two days after being injured in a car-ramming attack during a labor union demonstration in Munich. This marks the fifth violent attack involving immigrants in Germany within the past nine months, further fueling migration debates ahead of the country’s upcoming elections on February 23.
With PTI inputs