Austria says stabbing attack suspect swore allegiance to Islamic State

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner speaks next to Carinthia's Governor Peter Kaiser, Günther Albel, mayor of the town of Villach and Carinthia's Police Chief Michaela Kohlweiss at a press conference outside a police station in the town of Villach, after a 14-year-old boy was killed and several others were wounded in a stabbing attack, Austria February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic

VILLACH, Austria (Reuters) - The Syrian asylum seeker suspected of carrying out a deadly stabbing rampage in the Austrian town of Villach had sworn allegiance to Islamic State and was radicalised online, authorities said on Sunday.

A 14-year-old boy was killed in Saturday afternoon's attack in the centre of Villach and five other people were wounded, three of whom are in intensive care, police said.