Syrian Knife Terrorist After Killing in Carinthia: I’d Murder More People
A 24-year-old Syrian man was sentenced to life in prison for a Villach knife attack that killed a 14-year-old boy and injured five others after he reaffirmed his Islamic State allegiance.
The jury at Klagenfurt Regional Court unanimously found the defendant guilty of terrorist offences, murder, and attempted murder, according to Junge Freiheit. The verdict is not yet final and can be appealed.
The attack, which took place last year in Villach, lasted just 84 seconds according to investigators’ reconstruction. Six minutes elapsed between the first attack and the arrest of the perpetrator. A 14-year-old student was killed, while five other individuals sustained serious injuries.
Unrepentant Terrorist Pledges Allegiance to Islamic State
During the trial, the accused showed no remorse for his actions. When questioned by the court, he initially responded that he had already said everything. However, he later openly reaffirmed his allegiance to the Islamic State terrorist organization.
The Syrian attacker told the court he regretted nothing and would do everything the same way again, adding that he would kill even more people if given the chance. He stated his goal had been to kill at least ten people, targeting males between the ages of 14 and 45, as prescribed by Islamic State ideology.
When the judge asked where he envisioned the Islamic State he sought should be established, the defendant answered that it should be across the entire world. He indicated he still felt bound by the mission of the terror organization and wished to participate in establishing an Islamic State caliphate.
Rapid Online Radicalization
The high-security trial saw the 24-year-old defendant seated behind bulletproof glass and guarded by heavily armed officers. A special glass enclosure had been constructed in the courtroom for the proceedings. According to trial observers, the accused smiled when video footage of the crime scene reconstruction was played.
Investigators determined that the Syrian had radicalized online within just three months. He had originally fled Syria, by his own account, to avoid being drafted into military service. He had told police he was afraid for his life at that time. After arriving in Austria, however, he transformed into an Islamic State supporter.
Psychiatrist: Religious Fanaticism, Not Mental Illness
The court-appointed psychiatrist described the attack as a monstrous act that could not be explained by any psychological illness or disorder. The religious fanaticism on display left one speechless, he said, but one could only stand aside and acknowledge that such things do exist.
The prosecution had demanded a life sentence. The jury followed this recommendation after brief deliberation. The Syrian defendant has the right to appeal the verdict.
With information from Junge Freiheit
