Three people seriously injured in Vienna knife attack

Report says man with blade began stabbing people randomly; police searching for suspect

By AP 7 March 2018, 11:55 pm

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A police officer passes by a forensic expert after several people were reported injured in a knife attack on the streets of Vienna, Austria, on March 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

VIENNA — Austrian police said at least three people were injured in a knife attack Wednesday on the streets of Vienna, with the attacker possibly injuring a fourth nearby.

Vienna police said the attack happened at about 7:45 p.m. on Praterstrasse in the heart of Vienna.

“According to eyewitnesses a man has attacked three persons — a man, his wife and their adult daughter,” police spokesman Patrick Maierhofer told The Associated Press. “The three persons suffered heavy to life-threatening injuries and are currently in a hospital.”

A fourth person was attacked with a knife nearby shortly afterward, police said: “A link (between the attacks) is part of ongoing investigations.”

Witness Silvia Franke said she was about 100 meters (330 feet) away when the incident happened.

“I saw how someone in the middle of the street was screaming and shouting — I thought he was beating his dog judging from his hand movements,” she said. “And in reality he was stabbing this man.”

“He could have stabbed me as well had I been there by chance,” Franke said. “He had lost all control.”