Austria Reels from Deadly Terror Attack in Villach, Calls for Stronger Security Measures

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), the Austrian authorities have confirmed that the brutal stabbing attack in Villach, which left a 14-year-old boy dead and five others wounded, was motivated by "Islamic terrorism."

The attacker, identified as a 23-year-old Syrian man, was arrested shortly after the rampage on Saturday, sending shockwaves across the nation and reigniting debates over security and migration policies.

AP reported that Austria’s Interior Minister Gerhard Karner expressed outrage over the attack, stating, "I feel anger about an Islamist attacker who indiscriminately stabbed innocent people here in this city."

He also revealed that the suspect had ties to the Islamic State group (ISIS) and had undergone rapid self-radicalization online.

The gravity of the situation has drawn comparisons to a similar deadly attack in November 2020, when an ISIS sympathizer killed four people in Vienna before being shot dead by police.

The prompt intervention of a local Syrian food delivery worker, who used his vehicle to subdue the assailant, likely prevented further casualties. State Governor Peter Kaiser commended the worker’s bravery, remarking that "this shows how closely terrorist evil but also human good can be united in one and the same nationality."

In response to the attack, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen condemned the act as "horrific," extending his condolences to the victims’ families.

"No words can undo the suffering, the horror, the fear. My thoughts are with the family of the deceased victim and the injured," he posted on X.

The attack has prompted swift reactions from Austria’s political spectrum. Far-right leader Herbert Kickl denounced what he called a systemic failure in handling migration, blaming liberal asylum policies for escalating crime. "At the same time, I am angry—angry at those politicians who have allowed stabbings, rapes, gang wars, and other capital crimes to become the order of the day in Austria. This is a first-class failure of the system," he wrote.

He urged an immediate overhaul of Austria’s migration rules, reinforcing his party’s hardline stance on asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, conservative leader Christian Stocker echoed demands for stricter policies, calling for the attacker to be punished to the full extent of the law.

"We all want to live in a safe Austria, and this means political measures need to be taken to avoid such acts of horror in the future," he stated. Social Democrat leader Andreas Babler also weighed in, saying, "Crimes like this one simply should not happen in our society."

The Free Syrian Community of Austria distanced itself from the attacker in a public statement, expressing condolences to the victims and emphasizing that Syrians who fled their homeland sought safety, not violence. "We all had to flee Syria because we were no longer safe there—no one left their country voluntarily. We are grateful to have found asylum and protection in Austria," the association said, reaffirming that the attack does not represent the values of Syrians living in the country.

As Villach mourns, local officials have taken immediate precautionary measures, including canceling the city’s annual carnival procession scheduled for Saturday.

Authorities have also set up an online platform for witnesses to submit videos or photos related to the attack as part of the ongoing investigation. Schools in the area will reopen on Monday with crisis response teams available to provide psychological support to students affected by the tragedy.

The attack has once again put Austria’s counterterrorism policies under scrutiny, reigniting discussions on national security and migration management. As law enforcement agencies work to uncover further details about the attacker’s background and potential network, the incident is expected to fuel an already intense debate ahead of Austria’s upcoming elections.

Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.