A 14-year-old boy died, and four others were injured in a knife attack in Villach, Austria, on Saturday, 17th February 2024. Police arrested a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker at the scene.
The attacker randomly stabbed pedestrians in the city centre of Villach, Carinthia province, shortly before 4pm local time. A food delivery rider from Syria saw the attack and used his vehicle to stop the suspect. Officers arrived quickly and took him into custody.
Initially, reports mentioned four injured victims, but authorities later confirmed five, including two in serious condition. The oldest victim is 36 years old.
Investigation into the Villach knife attack
Police confirmed that the suspect holds a valid residence permit and has no prior criminal record. However, they are still investigating the motive. Witnesses reported hearing him shout “Allahu Akbar” during the attack.
Carinthia’s governor, Peter Kaiser, condemned the attack and demanded strict legal action. He stated that anyone living in Austria must respect the law and abide by national values. Those who fail to do so should face serious consequences, including imprisonment and deportation.
Far-right leader Herbert Kickl described the attack as a “system failure” and called for tighter asylum regulations. His Freedom Party (FPOe) recently won Austria’s national elections but failed to form a government with the runner-up conservatives.
Rising security concerns in Europe
Austria hosts nearly 100,000 Syrian refugees. After Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December, the government temporarily suspended asylum applications from Syrians to reassess the situation. Officials also halted family reunifications and sent 2,400 letters to revoke refugee status. The interior ministry has announced plans for a structured repatriation and deportation programme to Syria.
This attack occurred just two days after another violent incident in Munich, Germany. A 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker allegedly drove a car into a trade union demonstration, injuring 37 people. A two-year-old girl and her mother later died from their injuries. German police are investigating possible Islamist extremist motives.
With elections approaching, immigration and national security remain central political issues in Austria and Germany.
