Deadly Austrian stabbing killed teen, left 3 in intensive care was "Islamist attack"

Austrian authorities said Sunday (February 16) that a deadly stabbing rampage in the town of Villach was an Islamist attack, carried out by a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker who had been radicalised online and pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS).

The attack, which took place Saturday evening, killed a 14-year-old boy and left five others wounded, with three victims in intensive care, according to police.

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the suspect, who was arrested shortly after the attack, had been quickly radicalised through online content, and that an Islamic State flag was found in his apartment.

Authorities said the man had sworn an oath of allegiance to IS before launching the attack.

Rising security concerns

The stabbing in Villach comes at a time of heightened concern over extremist violence in Europe. In August, Austrian authorities foiled a suicide bombing plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, which was allegedly planned by a teenager who had also pledged loyalty to IS.

Just days before the Villach attack, a separate incident in Munich, Germany, saw an Afghan national drive his car into a crowd, injuring dozens. Two of the victims later died.

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Political fallout in Austria

The attack has intensified Austria’s already fraught political landscape, particularly amid debate over asylum policies and deportations.

The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won Austria’s parliamentary election in September but has struggled to form a governing coalition, seized on the incident to push its anti-immigration stance.

“No migrant would be able to commit murder or any other crime in our country if they were not in Austria in the first place,” FPO leader Herbert Kickl wrote in a social media post.

The party has long advocated for stricter deportation policies, including sending asylum seekers back to Syria and Afghanistan– destinations currently banned under international law for forced removals.

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With centrist parties now exploring coalition talks and President Alexander Van der Bellen considering a potential snap election, the political fallout from the Villach attack could further shape Austria’s immigration and security policies in the coming months.

With inputs from agencies