VIENNA
Associated Press
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A terrifying incident occurred on Saturday in southern Austria, where a 23-year-old man attacked five individuals with a knife, leading to the tragic death of a 14-year-old and injuries to four others, according to local authorities.

The assailant was apprehended in Villach, the city where the violence transpired, and is identified as a Syrian national residing legally in Austria.

Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio mentioned that the motive behind the attack remains unclear, while investigations are ongoing to understand the suspect’s background. “We must await confirmed information,” he stated.

A 42-year-old food delivery worker witnessed the horrific event from his vehicle. He intervened to help stop the situation from escalating, Dionisio shared with Austrian broadcaster ORF.

All victims were male, with two suffering serious injuries and two experiencing minor wounds, authorities confirmed.

Peter Kaiser, the governor of Carinthia, extended his condolences to the family of the deceased 14-year-old.

“This heinous act demands severe repercussions. I have always been clear that residents of Carinthia and Austria must respect our laws and values,” he stated.

Herbert Kickl, a far-right leader, expressed his deep shock on social media over the tragic event in Villach and sent strength to the grieving family of the young victim.

“I am also furious—furious at politicians who have allowed violence, including stabbings and other serious crimes, to become alarmingly frequent in Austria. This is a significant systemic failure that cost a young man his life,” Kickl lamented.

“Across Austria and the EU, incorrect policies are prevailing. No one is permitted to challenge these, with everything deemed untouchable,” he added, noting that his party has proposed essential reforms to immigration laws in their election agenda.

“We require a stringent crackdown on asylum processes and cannot continue to import the challenges witnessed in Villach.”

Christian Stocker, leader of the conservative party, stated on social media that the perpetrator “must face justice and be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”

“We all desire a secure Austria, which entails the implementation of political measures to prevent similar tragic incidents in the future,” he emphasized.

Social Democratic leader Andreas Babler called for “the full force of the law” to be applied, asserting that “such crimes have no place in our society.”

According to Austria’s public broadcaster ORF, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner is scheduled to visit Villach on Sunday morning.

On Sunday, officials plan to create a designated area in the city center for those wishing to commemorate the victims.

Authorities continue to investigate whether the suspect acted alone and are looking for any other potential accomplices. The relationship, if any, between the assailant and the victims remains unknown.

As of 2024, Austria received 24,941 asylum applications, with the largest group hailing from Syria, followed closely by Afghanistan.

The number of asylum seekers has significantly decreased over the past two years. After peaking at over 100,000 applications in 2022, around 59,000 individuals sought refuge in Austria in 2023.

Several European nations, including Austria, announced in December the suspension of decisions on asylum requests from Syrian nationals due to the uncertain political climate following the fall of Bashar Assad.

The topic of migration has gained considerable attention throughout Europe, leading to the rise of far-right political parties in recent elections.

In Austria, migration was a key issue leading up to last year’s elections, resulting in a significant electoral victory for the far-right Freedom Party, marking its first national win since World War II.

In a related incident on Saturday, German police reported that a two-year-old girl and her mother tragically passed away two days after being injured in a car-ramming attack during a labor union demonstration in Munich. This marked the fifth such incident involving immigrants in Germany within the past nine months, as migration continues to become a salient matter ahead of elections set for February 23.

This story is ongoing and updates will follow.