Austria witnessed a violent stabbing incident in Villach on Saturday, leaving one teenager dead and five others injured. The suspect, identified as a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria, was detained after the attack.
Police described the incident as random, but motives are still unclear. Authorities are investigating the attacker’s personal background. A witness who intervened by driving towards the suspect helped prevent further violence.
The victims were all men, with two seriously injured and one killed. The governor of Carinthia expressed condolences to the victim’s family, condemning the attack as an “outrageous atrocity.” Far-right leaders also weighed in on social media, citing immigration issues as a contributing factor to the country’s problems.
Conservative parties called for stricter asylum laws and punishment for the attacker. Meanwhile, Germany witnessed another violent incident involving immigrants just two days prior, raising concerns about migration policy in Europe.
Austria has seen a significant decrease in asylum applications over the past two years, with 24,941 foreigners applying for asylum in 2024, mostly from Syria and Afghanistan. The country’s interior minister is expected to visit Villach on Sunday morning.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/austria-stabbings-4913f6921c6f27e6d7fd8590da85cc9f