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February 17, 2025
A 23-year-old man attacked several passersby with a knife on Saturday afternoon in the center of Villach, Carinthia. A 14-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries. Five other people were injured, three of them seriously. The alleged perpetrator, an asylum seeker from Syria, was arrested shortly after the attack.
According to initial findings, the investigating authorities assume an Islamist-motivated attack. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner spoke of an "Islamist attack with IS connections". According to Karner, the suspect apparently radicalized himself online in a short period of time. Further details regarding the background of the attack are currently being examined by the authorities.
The attack was stopped by the courageous intervention of a 42-year-old food delivery driver. He hit the attacker with his vehicle, preventing further attacks. In the ensuing commotion, the delivery driver, also of Syrian origin, was initially mistaken for another attacker by eyewitnesses and his vehicle was damaged. In an interview with the "Kleine Zeitung" he expressed his concern about the possible impact of the attack on the perception of Syrians in Austria and emphasized that this act was not representative of his countrymen.
The knife attack has triggered horror and grief in Austria. Politicians from various parties expressed their dismay and offered their condolences to the victims' families. Christian Stocker, head of the ÖVP, demanded that all efforts be made to prevent such acts in the future. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl spoke of a "system failure" and renewed his call for a more restrictive migration policy. SPÖ leader Andi Babler praised the courage of the food delivery driver who stopped the perpetrator.
The attack occurred just two days after an attack in Munich in which two people were killed and numerous others injured. Investigators also suspect an Islamist background in this case. The close timing of the two events raises questions about possible connections, which are currently still the subject of investigations. The increasing online radicalization and the decreasing age of suspects pose new challenges for security authorities.
Experts have long warned about the danger of online radicalization, which particularly appeals to young, disenfranchised men. Social media plays a crucial role in this. The rapid availability of extremist content and the opportunity to exchange ideas in closed groups promote radicalization processes. The authorities face the challenge of effectively countering this development.
Quellen: - rnd.de: Österreich: 23-Jähriger sticht in Villach mit Messer auf Passanten ein - ein Toter - taz.de: Messerattacke in Österreich - br.de: Mann attackiert Passanten in Österreich - 14-Jähriger stirbt - focus.de: Brutale Attacke in Österreich - Mann aus Syrien sticht auf Passanten ein - 14-Jähriger stirbt - fr.de: Messer-Anschlag in Villach: Ermittler, Motiv, Österreich, Reaktionen, Politik, News - t-online.de: Österreich: Mann sticht auf Passanten ein - 14-Jähriger stirbt - pnp.de: Mann (23) sticht auf Passanten in Österreich ein - 14-Jähriger tot - zeit.de: Österreich: Villach, Messerattacke, Verletzte, Tote - welt.de: Österreich: Syrer sticht in Villach auf Passanten ein - 14-Jähriger getötet