According to authorities, the man who is suspected of murdering a 14-year-old child by stabbing six people in broad daylight in southern Austria was driven by “Islamic terrorism,” reports Breaking News.
The 23-year-old Syrian suspect was taken into custody following Saturday’s incident in Villach. Two of the five victims were critically hurt.
“This is an Islamist attack with an IS (Islamic State) connection by an attacker who radicalised himself within a very short time via the internet online,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated at a speech in Villach on Sunday, reports Breaking News.
Police used sniffer dogs to examine the suspect’s flat and discovered IS flags on the walls, according to state police head Michaela Kohlweiss.
She noted that although police confiscated cell phones, no guns or other dangerous items were discovered.
According to Ms. Kohlweiss, “the current picture is that of a lone perpetrator,” but police are still looking into whether the suspect had any collaborators, reports Breaking News.
In the coming weeks, she added, there would be more police officers in Villach and at events.
According to Ms. Kohlweiss, the attacker wielded a folding knife.
Three males, ages 28, 32, and 36, as well as two youngsters, both 15 years old, were hurt. One of them is being treated for minor wounds, while the other four are in the hospital, reports Breaking News.
Gunther Albel, the mayor of Villach, described the assault as a “stab in the heart of the city.”
Mr. Karner stated that it will eventually be required to “carry out a mass screening without cause because this assassin was not conspicuous” as the conversation turned to immigration and asylum-seekers.
Herbert Kickl, the far-right leader of Austria, who could not provide any details, demanded “a rigorous crackdown on asylum” following the incident. Kickl’s party won a national election four months ago, reports Breaking News.
A 42-year-old Syrian employee of a food delivery business who drove up to the suspect and stopped things from becoming worse was honoured by state governor Peter Kaiser.
“This shows how closely terrorist evil but also human good can be united in one and the same nationality,” he said, reports Breaking News.
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