By Borut Zivulovic
VILLACH, Austria (Reuters) – The Syrian asylum seeker who is suspected of carrying out a deadly stabbing spree in the Austrian town of Villach is believed to have connections to the Islamic State, having been radicalized online, as per authorities’ statements on Sunday. During the attack that occurred on Saturday, a 14-year-old boy lost his life, while five others sustained injuries, as confirmed by the police during a press conference.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner revealed that the 23-year-old Syrian man, who was swiftly apprehended following the incident, had undergone rapid radicalization through online platforms, with the discovery of an Islamic State (IS) flag in his residence adding weight to their suspicions. It was further disclosed that the man had sworn allegiance to IS.
The violence in Villach came on the heels of an August plot interception aimed at executing a suicide bombing at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, orchestrated by a teenager who had pledged loyalty to IS. Moreover, this recent rampage coincided with an attack in Munich, Germany, on Thursday, where an Afghan national plowed his car into a crowd, leaving dozens injured and two fatalities.
This series of events unfolded against a backdrop of political unrest in Austria, following the far-right Freedom Party’s (FPO) victory in the September parliamentary elections. Amidst uncertainties about government formation, centrist parties are deliberating on potential coalitions while the president contemplates various options, including a snap election.
The FPO’s political stance centers on cracking down on illegal immigration and enhancing deportations to nations like Syria and Afghanistan, though the legality of such actions is currently debatable. In response to the Villach incident, FPO leader Herbert Kickl was quick to assert that preventing migrants from entering the country would have averted the tragedy altogether, as stated in a social media post.
(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Helen Popper)
