VIENNA — A tragic incident unfolded in southern Austria on Saturday when a 23-year-old man violently attacked five passersby, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old and injuries to four others. Authorities have classified this as a random act of violence.

The assailant was apprehended in Villach, the site of the incident. According to police, he is a Syrian national with legal residency in Austria.

Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio stated that the motive behind the attack remains unclear, and they are currently examining the suspect’s background. “We must wait for secure details before drawing conclusions,” he mentioned.

A 42-year-old food delivery worker witnessed the attack from his vehicle. He bravely intervened by driving toward the attacker, which helped prevent further chaos, Dionisio relayed to Austria’s public broadcaster ORF.

All victims of the assault were men, with two suffering severe injuries and two others having minor wounds, according to police reports.

Peter Kaiser, the governor of Carinthia, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased teenager.

“This heinous act deserves stringent repercussions. I have always made it clear that those residing in Carinthia and Austria must adhere to our laws and values,” he asserted.

Far-right leader Herbert Kickl conveyed his shock over the “horrific act in Villach” via a post on the X social media platform, extending strength and support to the family of the 14-year-old victim.

“Simultaneously, I feel anger – directed at politicians who have allowed stabbings, rapes, gang violence, and other serious crimes to proliferate in Austria. This systemic failure has cost a young man his life,” Kickl expressed.

“From Austria to the EU, the wrong regulations prevail. Challenging them is forbidden, and everything is treated as untouchable,” he added, pointing out that his party had proposed necessary reforms to immigration laws in their election agenda.

“We must enforce strict measures on asylum to prevent conditions like those seen in Villach from being imported.”

Conservative leader Christian Stocker echoed that justice must be served against the attacker and called for comprehensive legal action. “We all desire to live in a secure Austria,” he stated, emphasizing the need for political actions to avert such tragic incidents in the future.

Andreas Babler, leader of the Social Democrats, insisted on using “the full force of the law,” remarking that “events like this simply should not occur in our society.”

Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was scheduled to visit Villach on Sunday morning, as reported by ORF.

Authorities will also set up a designated area in the city center for those wishing to mourn.

It remains unclear whether the attacker acted alone, as police continue to investigate and search for potential additional suspects. There is also no immediate information regarding any connections between the attacker and the victims.

According to the Interior Ministry, 24,941 foreign nationals sought asylum in Austria in 2024, with the largest group hailing from Syria, followed by Afghans.

In recent years, there has been a notable decline in asylum applications. In 2022, over 100,000 requests were submitted, whereas approximately 59,000 individuals applied for asylum in 2023.

In December, several European nations, including Austria, announced a suspension of decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals due to the unstable political climate in their home country after President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Migration continues to be a pivotal topic across many European nations, with far-right parties gaining traction in elections.

In Austria, migration was a key agenda item ahead of last year’s elections, contributing to the far-right Freedom Party’s first national election success since World War II.

On Saturday, police in neighboring Germany reported the tragic death of a 2-year-old girl and her mother, two days after they were injured in a vehicle-ramming event during a union demonstration in Munich. This incident marked the fifth assault involving immigrants in Germany within the last nine months, intensifying discussions around migration ahead of the upcoming elections on February 23.