In Villach, Austria, on February 16, a Syrian asylum seeker suspected of a deadly attack had pledged allegiance to Islamic State and was radicalized online, according to authorities. The incident on Saturday resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy, with five others injured, three of them in intensive care, as reported by the police.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner revealed in a press conference that the 23-year-old Syrian, swiftly radicalized online, was arrested seven minutes after the attack and had an Islamic State (IS) flag in his apartment. "Anger at an Islamist attacker who randomly stabbed innocent people here in this town," Karner expressed to reporters.
Karner called for increased authority to screen asylum seekers, advocating for "mass checks without cause in many areas." The suspect, now facing charges of murder and attempted murder, had recorded himself pledging allegiance to IS.
Preventing further harm, another Syrian intervened, ramming his vehicle into the attacker. The incident in Villach came after a foiled plot in Vienna in August and a recent attack in Munich, Germany.
Austria faces political tension amid discussions about forming a new government. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO) highlights illegal immigration concerns, advocating for increased deportations. FPO leader Herbert Kickl emphasized the importance of preventing crimes by migrants.
Various political figures condemned the attack, vowing to prosecute the perpetrator, underscoring that "hatred, intolerance, and extremism have no place in our society," as expressed by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg.