An unnamed 23-year-old Syrian national has been arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder after allegedly stabbing six people in Austria. The incident, that took place in Villach on Saturday, February 15, caused the death of a 14-year-old boy. According to police, it was the efforts of a food truck driver that helped stop the suspect before he could hurt anyone else.
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According to ABC News, the suspect allegedly stabbed six people near food stands at around 4 p.m. These included four teenage boys and three men, ages 28, 32, and 36. One of the teenage boys, a 14-year-old, tragically succumbed to his injuries. The Associated Press reports that two unspecified victims suffered serious injuries during the attack. Two others are hospitalized and one suffered minor injuries.
Another Syrian national, the 42-year-old food truck driver was in his vehicle, witnessing the whole incident. He decided to put a spot to it by driving his vehicle toward the suspect, allowing police to arrest him before things could get much worse.
Reactions
Following the violent incident, many of Austria's political leaders and government officials addressed and denounced the suspect. One of them was Peter Kaiser, Carinthia governor, who issued his condolences to the dead 14-year-old's family.
"This outrageous atrocity must be met with harsh consequences," Kaiser said, according to the AP. "I have always said with clarity and unambiguously: Those who live in Carinthia, in Austria, have to respect the law and adjust to our rules and values."
Herbert Kickl, leader of the Freedom Party of Austria issued a more severe statement regarding the knife attack. After wishing "much strength" to the family of the 14-year-old victim, he blasted Austrian politicians.
"I am angry. Angry at those politicians who have allowed stabbings, rapes, gang wars and other capital crimes to become the order of the day in Austria," Kickl said. "This is a first-class failure of the system, for which a young man in Villach has now had to pay with his life."
Finally, Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen reacted to the incident on X.
"The knife attack in Villach, which resulted in the death of a young person and left several others seriously injured, is horrific," he wrote. "No words can undo the suffering, the horror, the fear. My thoughts are with the family of the deceased victim and the injured."
