VIENNA – A 23-year-old man stabbed five passersby in South Austria on Saturday.
The suspect was taken into custody in the city of Villach, where the attack took place, police said. They said he is a Syrian citizen with legal settlements in Austria.
All the victims were male. Police said the two were seriously injured and two injured.
Police spokesman Rainer Dionisio said his motivations were not immediately known. He added that police are investigating the attacker’s personal background. “We have to wait until we have safe information,” he said.
The 42-year-old man who works for a food delivery company witnessed the incident in his car, police said. He drove towards the suspect and helped prevent things from getting worse, Dionicio told Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
Peter Kaiser, Governor of Austria, expressed his sadness towards the family of the 14-year-old victim.
“This outrageous atrocity must be met with severe consequences. I have always said it clearly and clearly. People living in Carintosia, Austria, respect the law and our rules and we must adapt to the value.”
Erwin Ajer, a far-right Liberal MP, said his party had warned about the situation in Austria as a result of the country’s “disastrous asylum policy.”
Austrian Home Minister Gerhard Kerner was expected in Villach on Sunday morning.
Police said it was not clear whether the suspect acted on his own and continued to search for potential additional suspects.
