Terror in Villach: 14-year-old dies in Islamist knife attack

Terror in Villach: 14-year-old dies in Islamist knife attack

A shocking knife attack on February 15, 2025 shook the city of Villach when a 14-year-old boy was brutally killed and five other people were seriously injured. The alleged perpetrator, a 23-year-old Syrian citizen named Ahmad G., stabbed passers-by with a folding knife without warning and called "Allahu Akbar" loudly. The police reported that three of the injuries had to be treated in the intensive care unit, while a randomly passing food supplier rammed the attacker with his vehicle to prevent worse things. According to wikipedia this bold may prevent other victims.

The Islamist attack, which all over Austria has on alert, raises questions about safety and dealing with radicalized migrants. Ahmad G. had radicalized Islamistically in the months before the crime on the Internet and was not previously known by the police. It is particularly alarming that investigators now suspect 24 Islamist dangers in Carinthia, as krone.at . According to the public prosecutor, flags of the terrorist organization of Islamic State (IS) had been found in the perpetrator's apartment, while Interior Minister Gerhard Karner categorized the incident as an Islamist attack with IS-COND.

reactions and consequences

After the attack, a pre -trial detention was imposed on Ahmad G., which should last until March 5, 2025. The background of the perpetrator also showed a desperate escape history: in 2020 he wanted to travel to Germany via Austria, but was stopped due to a lack of papers and finally applied for asylum in Austria. Despite his dramatic past, he was granted asylum in 2021 without the previously known incidents.

The knife attack in Villach led to a massive public funeral march with over 4,000 participants and triggered an appeal to politics nationwide to prevent steps to prevent such acts. In addition, statements about upcoming mass checks of migrants provided controversy. Experts warn that radicalization is increasingly taking place online and often can suddenly lead to acts of violence without notice.