Messer terror in Villach: grief and turmoil after brutal attack

Messer terror in Villach: grief and turmoil after brutal attack

Villach, Österreich - A shocking knife attack in Villach, Carinthia, put the country in mourning on Saturday, February 16, 2025. The alleged perpetrator, a 23-year-old Syrian named Ahmad G., stabbed passers-by, which led to a tragic death of a 14-year-old student and several seriously injured people. Despite this terrible act, Ahmad G. is not deported for the time being due to his asylum status in Austria. According to the Interior Ministry, the suspect has been in Austria since 2020, where he was granted asylum based on the uncertain location in Syria. "Since this Situation has not yet been clarified, the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs and Asylum cannot make any final decisions," said a spokesman.

The tragedy not only grasped Villach, but the entire country. While the suspect was arrested for murder and several attempts at murder, the Ministry of the Interior sees no possibility for immediate deportation in the current legal situation. However, the authorities agree that the protection status of the alleged perpetrator, given the serious crime, must be withdrawn. "First he has to serve his prison sentence before deportation can be done," according to the places. Scenes that took place in this incident.

uncertain future for Syrian refugees

The drama in Villach falls during a time when demands for deportations are loud after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Politicians like Jens Spahn and Alexander Dobrindt have the idea of ​​moving refugees from Syria with financial incentives to return. They discuss a “return roadmap” and possible financial aid for returnees. However, despite the political pressure, the situation in Syria remains tense and negatively influences the legal situation of Syrian refugees in Germany. The domestic spokesman for the Union parliamentary group, Alexander Throm, asked for an examination as to whether the protection status could not be omitted. At the same time, the view of the actual circumstances in Syria remains unclear about the further steps. Both in Villach and Syria for a tense legal situation for refugee people.