Villach in mourning: Mayor demands consequences from a knife attack

Villach in mourning: Mayor demands consequences from a knife attack

Villach, Österreich - in Villach there was a tragic knife attack that triggered a wave of shock and grief in the city. A 14-year-old boy lost his life, while five other people were seriously injured. Mayor Günther Albel described the cruel deed as "incredible" and expressed his sympathy for the families concerned. According to minebezirk.at , the incident occurred at the main square of Villach, where a 23-year-old Syrian refugee stood out of passers-by. The perpetrator was arrested in a quick police operation after a brave witness defused the situation with his car.

The reactions to the attack were correspondingly violent, both in politics and among the population. Politicians of the most diverse camps were affected and demanded clear consequences. While FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl described the incidents as "system failure of the first quality" and asked for a drastic turn in asylum policy, SPÖ boss Andreas Babler called on the fully hardness of the rule of law. The Carinthian governor Peter Kaiser showed himself "deeply shocked" and called for a law -compliant migration policy to prevent such terrible acts in the future. These political positions have been accompanied by a general demand for stronger measures against conscientious objectors, as on 5min.at

grief and civil courage

To give the victims the necessary dignity, the city of Villach will convene a mourning week and run black flags. Mayor Albel praised the brave man, who prevented worse through his intervention and emphasized that the crime did not represent the entire Syrian community. "This is about a criminal, a murderer," said Albel and at the same time called for "clear consequences" for everyone who does not adhere to the laws and values. The city has convened a crisis team to discuss the next steps and plans to check the security situation in the course of events, which could also have an impact on future events.