VIENNA (AP) — A 23-year-old man perpetrated a stabbing spree that injured six individuals in southern Austria on Saturday. This random act of violence resulted in the tragic death of a 14-year-old and left five others with injuries.

The suspect was apprehended in Villach, the city where the attack occurred. Authorities confirmed he is a Syrian national who holds legal residency in Austria.

Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio stated that a definite motive has not yet been established, adding that investigators are looking into the attacker’s background. “We need to wait for reliable information,” he remarked.

A 42-year-old man, employed by a food delivery service, witnessed the attack from his vehicle. He intervened to help prevent further escalation, as reported by Dionisio to Austria’s state broadcaster ORF.

The victims, all male, included two who suffered serious injuries and two with minor wounds. Later on, police reported a fifth man was also injured during the incident.

Peter Kaiser, the governor of Carinthia, shared his condolences with the family of the deceased 14-year-old. He emphasized, “This shocking act of violence must be dealt with severely. I have always stated clearly: Everyone living in Carinthia and Austria must adhere to our laws and respect our values.”

Far-right leader Herbert Kickl expressed his outrage on X, stating his shock at the “terrible incident in Villach” and extending heartfelt support to the family of the young victim.

Kickl also voiced his frustration towards politicians, accusing them of allowing violent crimes, including stabbings and other serious offenses, to become commonplace in Austria. He claimed this incident reflects a systemic failure, resulting in the tragic loss of a young life.

“Across Austria and the EU, misguided regulations prevail. Challenging them is out of the question; they are treated as inviolable,” he continued, asserting his party’s call for necessary reforms to immigration policies.

“We must rigorously address asylum issues to avoid reproducing conditions like those seen in Villach,” he urged.

Christian Stocker, leader of the conservative party, called for the attacker to face justice and receive the strictest possible punishment. “We all desire a safe Austria,” he stated, emphasizing the need for political action to prevent future violent acts.

Andreas Babler, head of the Social Democrats, echoed the sentiment that “the full extent of the law” must be applied, asserting that such crimes should have no place in society.

Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner is expected to visit Villach on Sunday, as ORF reported.

Authorities will also create a designated area in the city center for residents wishing to mourn.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the suspect acted alone and are searching for any additional accomplices. Currently, there is no information suggesting a connection between the attacker and his victims.

As per the Interior Ministry, a total of 24,941 foreigners sought asylum in Austria in 2024, with Syrians forming the largest group of applicants, closely followed by individuals from Afghanistan.

In recent years, the number of asylum requests has significantly decreased. In 2022, applications exceeded 100,000, while approximately 59,000 individuals sought refugee status in 2023.

In December, several European nations, including Austria, announced a pause on decisions regarding asylum requests from Syrian nationals, prompted by ongoing uncertainties in their home country following the fall of Bashar Assad.

The matter of migration remains a focal discussion in numerous European nations, with far-right parties gaining traction in elections.

Migration was a key issue in Austria’s recent elections, contributing to the far-right Freedom Party’s achievement of its first national election victory since World War II.

In a related incident, police in nearby Germany reported the fatalities of a 2-year-old girl and her mother, who succumbed two days after being injured in a car-ramming attack during a labor demonstration in Munich. This incident marked the fifth such attack involving immigrants in Germany in the last nine months, intensifying discussions surrounding migration ahead of the upcoming elections on February 23.