On February 15, 2025, a knife attack in Villach, a city located in the southern Austrian province of Carinthia, resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy and left several others injured.

The police reported that a 23-year-old male asylum seeker from Syria was arrested at the scene, accused of attacking multiple pedestrians.

Authorities confirmed that, in addition to the deceased teenager, four other individuals sustained injuries during the incident.

Of these, three are currently receiving treatment in intensive care units, according to police statements.

The assailant was reportedly stopped by a 42-year-old food delivery driver, also of Syrian descent, who intervened by striking the attacker with his vehicle, potentially preventing further harm.

Initial reports indicated that five individuals had been injured, but police later clarified that the actual number was four.

The assailant, who had legal residency in Austria, was noted to have no prior police records.

Witnesses reported that the attacker shouted "Allahu Akbar" during the assault.

Following the incident, a press conference was held where Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner characterized the suspect as an "Islamist attacker" and mentioned potential links to the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The investigation is being conducted by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism in Carinthia, along with criminal investigators.

The attack has raised significant concerns regarding public safety within the community, with residents expressing shock and outrage.

Political responses have also emerged, with some leaders calling for action to prevent future incidents.

Christian Stocker, head of the ruling conservative Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), emphasized the necessity for political measures.

Herbert Kickl, leader of the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), described the situation as indicative of a "system failure" and reiterated demands for stricter immigration policies, coining the term "Fortress Austria" to describe his envisioned approach.

This tragic event occurred just two days after another reportedly Islamist-motivated assault at a Verdi union demonstration in Munich, Germany, which resulted in several injuries, including two fatalities—a two-year-old girl and her 37-year-old mother, both of whom later died in the hospital.

The suspected attacker in that case, a rejected Afghan asylum seeker, has been taken into custody, with officials issuing a detention order against him.