Austrian authorities say Villach stabber was Islamist, pledged allegiance to ISIS
Austrian minister says 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker was radicalized online before killing 14-year-old boy, wounding five others
The suspected perpetrator of a deadly knife attack in the southern Austrian town of Villach on Saturday had sworn allegiance to Islamic State and had its flag in his apartment, Austrian officials said on Sunday.
At a press conference in Villach, the police chief for the state of Carinthia, Michaela Kohlweiss, said she could confirm an oath of allegiance. She and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the ISIS flag had been found in his apartment.
The 23-year-old suspect, who was detained shortly after the stabbing, is a Syrian asylum seeker with a residence permit in Austria. The assailant, named in reports as Ahmad G., stabbed six passersby, killing a 14-year-old and injuring five others, in what police said was a random attack.
A 42-year-old man, also a Syrian working for a food delivery company, witnessed the attack from his car. He drove toward the suspect and helped to prevent the situation from escalating, police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF.
The Free Syrian Community of Austria issued a statement on Facebook distancing itself from the attack and expressing its deepest condolences to the victims’ families. “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,” the association said.
“Finally, we would like to emphasize: Anyone who causes strife and disturbs the peace of society does not represent the Syrians who have sought and received protection here,” the statement concluded.
Villach, a popular tourist destination near the borders of Italy and Slovenia, is known for its laid-back atmosphere, which blends Mediterranean and Alpine traditions. The city hosts annual carnival processions in March and an event on Saturday was canceled in the wake of the attack.
The Austrian Ministry of Interior activated a platform for witnesses to upload videos or photos related to the attack. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner is expected in Villach on Sunday for a press conference. Local authorities said a crisis response team will be available to support pupils when schools open on Monday.
The victims were all men, with two seriously wounded and two sustaining minor injuries, police said. Later Saturday, police said a fifth person was also injured.
Peter Kaiser, the governor of the province of Carinthia, expressed his condolences to the family of the 14-year-old.
“This outrageous atrocity must be met with harsh consequences. 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,” he said.
