Suspect in deadly stabbing attack in Austria motivated by ‘Islamic terrorism’, say authorities

A man accused of killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring five other people in a stabbing attack in Austria was motivated by “Islamic terrorism”, say authorities.

The victims, which included two 15-year-old boys and three men aged 28, 32 and 36, were attacked with a folding knife in the southern city of Villach on Saturday. Four of them are receiving hospital treatment and one is being treated for minor injuries.

A 23-year-old Syrian was arrested after the rampage which is being treated as an “Islamic terror incident”.

Austria‘s interior minister Gerhard Karner said the suspect had alleged ties to the Islamic State group and radicalised himself online within a very short time period.

IS flags were discovered on the walls of the suspect’s apartment during a search, according to police.

Mobile phones were seized but no weapons or dangerous objects were found, they added.

Officers are looking into whether he had any accomplices but at the moment they believe he was a “lone perpetrator”.

In November 2020, four people were killed by a gunman in the capital Vienna who was then fatally shot by police. The attacker, who had an automatic rifle and a fake explosive vest, had previously tried to join Islamic State before carrying out his rampage.

‘No words can undo the suffering’

Speaking about the attack in Villach, Mr Karner told reporters that he felt “anger about an Islamist attacker who indiscriminately stabbed innocent people here in this city”.

Austria’s president Alexander Van der Bellen called the attack “horrific”, saying on X that “no words can undo the suffering, the horror, the fear”.

Also, far-right leader Herbert Kickl, whose Freedom Party of Austria won a national election four months ago, called for “a rigorous crackdown on asylum” in the wake of the attack.

Mr Karner said it will ultimately be necessary to “carry out a mass screening without cause because this assassin was not conspicuous”.

Praise for Syrian helper

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old Syrian man helped prevent the situation from getting worse by driving towards the suspect.

The man, who worked for a food delivery company, was thanked by state governor Peter Kaiser.

“This shows how closely terrorist evil but also human good can be united in one and the same nationality,” Mr Kaiser said.

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The Free Syrian Community of Austria has distanced itself from the attack and expressed its deepest condolences to the victims’ families.

‘Anyone who causes strife does not represent Syrians’

In a statement on Facebook, it wrote: “We all had to flee Syria, our home country, because we were no longer safe there – no-one left their country voluntarily. We are grateful to have found asylum and protection in Austria.

“Finally, we would like to emphasise: Anyone who causes strife and disturbs the peace of society does not represent the Syrians who have sought and received protection here.”