Politics Knife attack in Austria - Syrian is an Islamist according to investigators
Following a knife attack in Villach, Austria, which left a 14-year-old dead and five injured, investigators have classified the arrested attacker as a radical Islamist. The 23-year-old Syrian had obviously become radicalized on the Internet within a very short time, said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner. "This is an Islamist attack with an IS connection." IS stands for the Islamic State terrorist militia. Clear evidence of Islamist ideology was found in his apartment, including IS flags, as Carinthia's police chief Michaela Kohlweiss said.
16.02.2025, 14:59
SDA
On Saturday afternoon, the Syrian refugee had indiscriminately stabbed passers-by in the center of the town in the southern province of Carinthia. A 14-year-old boy died. Five other people were injured. Three of the victims were still receiving intensive medical treatment on Sunday.
Syrian food delivery man stops attacker
The attack was stopped by a Syrian food delivery man who hit the suspect with his vehicle. Shortly afterwards, the attacker was arrested by two policewomen. In the commotion, there was initially confusion about the intentions of the food delivery man, who is also a Syrian refugee.
"Suddenly, several people hit my car. They probably thought I was planning an attack. I locked the car and called the police," the 42-year-old told the Kleine Zeitung newspaper. Representatives from politics and the police thanked him for preventing something even worse.
Attack shortly after the attack in Munich
Just two days earlier, a 24-year-old man from Afghanistan had driven a car into a demonstration in Munich. Two people, a mother and her child, died; dozens were injured. Investigators are also assuming an Islamist background in this case.
The suspect from Villach had never before been targeted by the police or intelligence services, says police chief Kohlweiss. However, he had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State before committing his crime. The attacker had also accepted being shot in the course of his crime, she said. The authorities are assuming that he was a lone perpetrator.
Interior Minister wants "mass screening without cause"
In response to the attack, Karner called for "mass screening without cause" of certain target groups such as Syrian and Afghan refugees. Further development of the laws is necessary in order to give the Office for the Protection of the Constitution more possibilities.
Herbert Kickl, leader of the right-wing FPÖ, spoke of a "first-class system failure, for which a young person in Villach has now had to pay with his life". The leader of Austria's most popular party once again campaigned for a restrictive migration policy under his slogan "Fortress Austria".
Concerns about the image of Syrians in Austria
"Of course I am now worried that people will think bad things about us, but we are not like that," said the food supplier about the Austrians' view of his Syrian compatriots. "I very much hope that people will see that we are simply here to live in peace with our children and families."
Carinthia's Prime Minister Peter Kaiser called on the population to unite in the face of the emotionally charged situation. "Please stand together in such difficult times," said the Social Democrat politician.
