A 23-year-old Syrian national has been detained after a 14-year-old boy was killed in a random knife attack in Austria, which left five wounded.
Authorities said the suspect - a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria - has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker's personal background.
Four of the victims were men aged between 14 and 32. Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries. Later on Saturday, police confirmed a fifth man was injured.
A 42-year-old man who works for a food delivery company witnessed the incident from his car, police said. He drove toward the suspect and helped to prevent things from getting worse, Dionisio told Austria's public broadcaster ORF.
"A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife," police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP.
Police said it wasn't clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.
The incident happened on Saturday just before 4pm local time in the centre of the city in southern Austria.
KEY POINTS
- Teenager killed in knife attack, four others injured
- Suspect is a 24-year-old Syrian national
- Man attacked people at random, police say
- Delivery driver witnessed attack and drove towards suspect
Full report: Teenager dead and five injured after ‘random’ knife attack in Villach, Austria
09:33 , Alex CroftA Syrian national has been arrested after a 14-year-old boy was killed in a stabbing in Austria, which left five others injured.
The 23-year-old suspect, who has legal residence in Austria, was detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Four of the victims were men aged between 14 and and 32. Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries. Later on Saturday, police confirmed that a fifth man had been injured.
Read the full report:
Teenager dead and four injured after ‘random’ knife attack in Villach, Austria
Hero food delivery driver steps in
09:06 , Alex CroftA hero food delivery driver witnessed the incident from his car, police said.
The 42-year-old man drove towards the suspect and prevented things from becoming worse, police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
Teenage boy dies and four injured in knife attack in Austria
08:39 , Alex CroftA 14-year-old boy has died and four other people injured in a knife attack in southern Austria at 4pm local time on Saturday, 15 February.
A 23-year-old man has been detained by police in the city of Villach, where the attack took place.
Police confirmed the man detained is a Syrian national with legal residence in Austria.
Whether the attacker knew any of the victims remained unclear, Rainer Dionisio, a spokesperson for the police in the southern state of Carinthia, said.
Watch here:
Teenage boy dies and four injured in knife attack in Austria
Austrian Conservative party leader issues statement
08:10 , Alex CroftConservative party leader Christian Stocker said on the X social media platform that the attacker "must be brought to justice and be punished with the full force of the law."
"We all want to live in a safe Austria, adding that this means political measures need to be taken to "avoid such acts of horror in the future," he said.
Two seriously injured
07:03 , Athena StavrouFive people were stabbed in the attack - with one 14-year-old boy having been killed.
The victims were all men aged between 14 and and 32.
Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries
Where is Villach?
06:00 , Athena StavrouVillach is a city in southern Austria in the state of Carinthia.
It is known for its carnival and is in an area that is a tourist hotspot in the summer as it includes one of Austria's most famous lakes but otherwise attracts little attention.
"I have been in the (Carinthian police) press service for 20 years and cannot recall such an act," Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told national broadcaster ORF.
Interior Minister had visit planned for Sunday
05:04 , Athena StavrouAustria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was expected in Villach on Sunday morning, according to Austria's public broadcaster ORF.
It is unclear whether this visit is still going ahead.
Watch: Teenage boy dies and four injured in knife attack in Austria
04:01 , Athena StavrouGovernor says 'atrocity must be met with harsh consequences'
02:46 , Athena StavrouPeter Kaiser, the governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia, expressed his condolences to the family of the 14-year-old victim.
"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."
Who is the suspect?
01:17 , Athena StavrouAuthorities said the suspect - a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria - has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker's personal background.
"We have to wait until we get secure information," he said.
Police said it wasn't clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.
Delivery driver witnessed attack
00:01 , Athena StavrouA 42-year old man who works for a food delivery company, witnessed the incident from his car.
He drove toward the suspect to stop the attack from escalating, police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told Austria's public broadcaster ORF.
“This meant that we were able to arrest [the suspect] immediately,” he said.
Pictures from the scene
Saturday 15 February 2025 23:19 , Athena Stavrou
Watch: Teenage boy dies and four injured in knife attack in Austria
Saturday 15 February 2025 22:44 , Athena StavrouInterior Minister had visit planned for Sunday
Saturday 15 February 2025 21:59 , Athena StavrouAustria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was expected in Villach on Sunday morning, according to Austria's public broadcaster ORF.
It is unclear whether this visit is still going ahead.
Austrian Conservative party leader issues statement
Saturday 15 February 2025 21:27 , Athena StavrouConservative party leader Christian Stocker said on the X social media platform that the attacker "must be brought to justice and be punished with the full force of the law."
"We all want to live in a safe Austria, adding that this means political measures need to be taken to "avoid such acts of horror in the future," he said.
Where is Villach?
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:53 , Athena StavrouVillach is a city in southern Austria in the state of Carinthia.
It is known for its carnival and is in an area that is a tourist hotspot in the summer as it includes one of Austria's most famous lakes but otherwise attracts little attention.
"I have been in the (Carinthian police) press service for 20 years and cannot recall such an act," Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told national broadcaster ORF.
Full story: Teenager dead and four injured after ‘random’ knife attack in Villach, Austria
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:42 , Athena StavrouA 14-year-old boy has been killed after a man stabbed five people at random in Austria.
Authorities said the suspect - a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria - has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the attacker's personal background.
"We have to wait until we get secure information," he said, adding that a man “randomly attacked passers-by with a knife”.
Teenager dead and four injured after ‘random’ knife attack in Villach, Austria
Two seriously injured
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:35 , Athena StavrouFive people were stabbed in the attack - with one 14-year-old boy having been killed.
The victims were all men aged between 14 and and 32.
Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries.
Pictured: Police at scene of attack
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:30 , Athena Stavrou
Villach city council issues statement
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:21 , Athena StavrouThe city council of Villach has released a statement following the attack in the city.
Mayor Günther Albel strongly condemned the attack, according to broadcasters ORF.
"Today in Villach we are confronted with the worst that could have happened," he said.
The council called for measures at the federal level
Man attacked at random, police say
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:09 , Athena StavrouAustrian police said the knifeman who stabbed five people, killing one, attacked people at random.
"A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife," police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP of the incident in the city of Villach.
"One victim, a 14-year-old boy, died," he added.
Governor says 'atrocity must be met with harsh consequences'
Saturday 15 February 2025 20:02 , Athena StavrouPeter Kaiser, the governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia, expressed his condolences to the family of the 14-year-old victim.
"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."
Die unfassbare Gräueltat in Villach muss schärfste Konsequenzen haben! Wer in Kärnten, in Österreich lebt, muss Recht & Gesetz achten. Wer dagegen verstößt, muss schärfste Konsequenzen erfahren - dem ist der Prozess zu machen, einzusperren & abzuschieben.https://t.co/yss0pxoWiq
— Peter Kaiser (@PeterKaiserSP) February 15, 2025
Who is the suspect?
Saturday 15 February 2025 19:56 , Athena StavrouAuthorities said the suspect - a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria - has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker's personal background.
"We have to wait until we get secure information," he said.
Police said it wasn't clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.
Delivery driver witnessed attack
Saturday 15 February 2025 19:50 , Athena StavrouA 42-year old man who works for a food delivery company, witnessed the incident from his car.
He drove toward the suspect to stop the attack from escalating, police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told Austria's public broadcaster ORF.
“This meant that we were able to arrest [the suspect] immediately,” he said.
Teenager killed in knife attack in Austria
Saturday 15 February 2025 19:39 , Athena StavrouA 14-year-old boy has been killed after a man stabbed five people at random in Austria.
Authorities said the suspect - a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria - has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker's personal background.
The victims were all men aged between 14 and and 32. Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries.
"A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife," police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP.
Police said it wasn't clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.
The incident happened on Saturday just before 4pm local time in the centre of the city in southern Austria.
