Austria Stabbing Attack: ISIS-Inspired Syrian Asylum Seeker Kills Teen, Injures Many In Knife Attack

A brutal stabbing attack shook the Austrian town of Villach, leaving one teenager dead and five others injured, with authorities confirming that the suspect, a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker, had been radicalised online and inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS), ANI reported.

According to Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, the attacker had become influenced by extremist ideology through the internet. The suspect, who arrived in Austria from Syria in 2020 and was later granted asylum, was arrested at the scene of the attack on Saturday (15 February).

The violent rampage unfolded around 4 PM, with the suspect randomly attacking people using a folding knife. Austrian police, responding swiftly within seven minutes of the first distress call, managed to apprehend him, but not before he fatally stabbed a 14-year-old and injured five others.

Authorities revealed that the attack was halted due to the brave intervention of a 42-year-old Syrian national, who witnessed the chaos and took immediate action.

"A witness saw the event and decided to intervene — he rammed the perpetrator with his car and thus probably prevented worse things from happening," stated Michaela Kohlweiss, the state police director leading the investigation. Following this intervention, two officers subdued and arrested the suspect.

On Sunday (16 February), police officials disclosed that the attacker had no prior criminal record and had not been under surveillance by Austria’s domestic intelligence services.

However, a search of his apartment uncovered explicit evidence of radicalisation, including Islamic State flags displayed on the walls. No weapons or explosives were discovered during the raid.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the suspect’s background and motives, suggesting that he had been radicalised within a short period through online extremist content.