VIENNA — The southern Austrian city of Villach is grappling with shock and grief after a tragic incident unfolded in broad daylight, where a man stabbed six individuals, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy and injuries to five others, leading to discussions surrounding migration issues.
Residents have started to leave candles at the scene of the tragedy as a memorial. On Sunday morning, friends of the deceased boy convened at the location, mourning their loss and lighting candles, according to local reports.
The arrested suspect is a 23-year-old Syrian national who possesses a residence permit for Austria. Observing the attack from a vehicle was a 42-year-old Syrian man working in food delivery, who intervened to prevent the situation from worsening, as remarked by police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio to Austria’s public broadcaster.
Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen addressed the shocking occurrence by labeling it as “horrific,” extending his thoughts and condolences to the families impacted, stating, “No words can undo the suffering, the horror, the fear.”
In an official statement, the Free Syrian Community of Austria expressed their grief and disassociation from the assailant, emphasizing their collective escape from Syria in search of safety. “No one leaves their homeland voluntarily,” the group asserted, while also expressing gratitude for the asylum they’ve found in Austria. They emphasized that anyone causing unrest does not represent the Syrians seeking safety here.
Dionisio noted that authorities are still working to determine a motive behind the stabbing, investigating the suspect’s background closely.
The city, known for its engaging tourist vibe near Italy and Slovenia, had to cancel its annual carnival procession planned for Saturday due to the circumstances surrounding the attack. In a response to the incident, Austria’s Interior Ministry created a platform for witnesses to submit any relevant videos or photographs, with Minister Gerhard Karner expected to hold a press conference in Villach. Local officials announced that a crisis response unit will support students when they return to school on Monday.
The victims comprised primarily men, with police reporting two suffering serious injuries and two others with minor wounds, adding a fifth individual was hurt later that day.
Peter Kaiser, the governor of Carinthia, extended his sympathies to the family of the young victim, stating, “This outrageous atrocity must be met with harsh consequences,” reinforcing the need for adherence to local laws and values.
The incident has sparked discussions around immigration policy, with far-right political leader Herbert Kickl expressing outrage over the violence in Villach. He called for stricter regulations on asylum seekers, criticizing existing political leaders for allowing an increase in violent crime throughout Austria. He remarked on the necessity for concentrated changes to immigration policies as outlined by his party during election discussions.
Christian Stocker, another conservative party leader, echoed the sentiment for justice, insisting that such actions must be penalized with the utmost severity. He underscored the collective desire for a safer Austria, calling for political measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Meanwhile, social democratic leader Andreas Babler voiced his dismay, stating that incidents of this nature are unacceptable within society.
