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At least three killed in Austria after man drives into crowd before 'stabbing passers-by' in Graz | At least three killed in Austria after man drives into crowd before 'stabbing passers-by' in Graz |
(6 months later) | |
A seven-year-old boy is reportedly among the three people killed in Austria by a man who ploughed his car into crowds in the country’s second-largest city and then reportedly started stabbing people. | A seven-year-old boy is reportedly among the three people killed in Austria by a man who ploughed his car into crowds in the country’s second-largest city and then reportedly started stabbing people. |
A witness told the Wiener Zeitung newspaper that dead bodies were left lying face down in the road after the vehicle sped through streets near the the historical Herrengasse in Graz. | A witness told the Wiener Zeitung newspaper that dead bodies were left lying face down in the road after the vehicle sped through streets near the the historical Herrengasse in Graz. |
The killing only stopped when the driver parked his battered car outside a police station. | |
More than 30 pedestrians, including three children, were hurt at several locations during the rampage and 10 victims were in hospital with serious injuries. One patient was in a critical condition on Saturday afternoon. | More than 30 pedestrians, including three children, were hurt at several locations during the rampage and 10 victims were in hospital with serious injuries. One patient was in a critical condition on Saturday afternoon. |
The driver, identified by police as a 26-year-old Austrian man of Bosnian heritage, has been arrested. He works as a professional driver and is married with two children. | The driver, identified by police as a 26-year-old Austrian man of Bosnian heritage, has been arrested. He works as a professional driver and is married with two children. |
Police are not currently investigating terrorism as a motive and the suspect is believed to be suffering from mental illness. | Police are not currently investigating terrorism as a motive and the suspect is believed to be suffering from mental illness. |
Witnesses recounted how the man drove his vehicle into crowds apparently at random, sending pedestrians and cyclists crashing into the windscreen and rolling over the bonnet. | |
Dr Sea Rotmann, who was nearby, told Sky News: "I had a friend who was there and she saw people flying through the air. She saw bodies lying there, it was absolute chaos and mayhem. | Dr Sea Rotmann, who was nearby, told Sky News: "I had a friend who was there and she saw people flying through the air. She saw bodies lying there, it was absolute chaos and mayhem. |
"Apparently the guy was attacking two elderly people with a knife and then attacking police with a knife when he got out." | "Apparently the guy was attacking two elderly people with a knife and then attacking police with a knife when he got out." |
Police said the stabbing happened outside a grocery shop, where a man was seriously injured and a woman wounded less severely. | Police said the stabbing happened outside a grocery shop, where a man was seriously injured and a woman wounded less severely. |
The incident started at around 12.15pm local time (11.15am BST), sending screaming shoppers running into shops for safety. | The incident started at around 12.15pm local time (11.15am BST), sending screaming shoppers running into shops for safety. |
A statement from the city council said: "At 12pm there was an appalling incident in the centre of Graz, which has caused major alarm and left the city deeply shaken. | A statement from the city council said: "At 12pm there was an appalling incident in the centre of Graz, which has caused major alarm and left the city deeply shaken. |
"A killer used his car as a weapon and deliberately ran people down on a rampage. The perpetrator is in custody." | "A killer used his car as a weapon and deliberately ran people down on a rampage. The perpetrator is in custody." |
A spokesperson said the killing spree started in Zweiglgasse, where one person died, and the driver continued through the city and over the Schönaugasse bridge to Herrengasse, ploughing into a cafe seating area in the Hauptplatz (main square). | A spokesperson said the killing spree started in Zweiglgasse, where one person died, and the driver continued through the city and over the Schönaugasse bridge to Herrengasse, ploughing into a cafe seating area in the Hauptplatz (main square). |
A witness speaking to the Wiener Zeitung compared the sound of chairs and tables being knocked over by the speeding car to a "gunfight". | A witness speaking to the Wiener Zeitung compared the sound of chairs and tables being knocked over by the speeding car to a "gunfight". |
The mayor of Graz, Siegfried Nagl, was riding his Vespa only metres away from the car as it screamed down Zweiglgasse and said he heard a "loud bang" behind him. | |
He described seeing the vehicle overtake a bus at "extremely high speed" and hit a man, who died at the scene. | He described seeing the vehicle overtake a bus at "extremely high speed" and hit a man, who died at the scene. |
Mr Nagl said: "At first I thought it was an accident and the driver would stop, but he carried on purposefully and had deliberately killed the man." | Mr Nagl said: "At first I thought it was an accident and the driver would stop, but he carried on purposefully and had deliberately killed the man." |
The suspect was caught in a nearby Schmiedgasse, where he stopped his car outside a police station. | The suspect was caught in a nearby Schmiedgasse, where he stopped his car outside a police station. |
Josef Klamminger, the director of police, said the driver's motive was not yet known but he appeared to be "psychotic" following problems at home. | Josef Klamminger, the director of police, said the driver's motive was not yet known but he appeared to be "psychotic" following problems at home. |
Herrengasse is Graz's main shopping street and the adjoining squares are popular with tourists and diners making the most of the summer with its outdoor cafes and bars. | Herrengasse is Graz's main shopping street and the adjoining squares are popular with tourists and diners making the most of the summer with its outdoor cafes and bars. |
This afternoon it was lined with 50 ambulances and dozens of police cars as helicopters flew overhead. | |
Hermann Schützenhöfer, the governor of Styria state, called the driver a "deranged lone assassin". | Hermann Schützenhöfer, the governor of Styria state, called the driver a "deranged lone assassin". |
"We are shocked and dismayed...here is no explanation and no excuse for this attack," he said at a press conference. | "We are shocked and dismayed...here is no explanation and no excuse for this attack," he said at a press conference. |
"We have much to do to ensure cohesion in our community, which has clearly become difficult for many people. I appeal to everyone to seek unity in their lives and build bridges, not walls." | "We have much to do to ensure cohesion in our community, which has clearly become difficult for many people. I appeal to everyone to seek unity in their lives and build bridges, not walls." |
The deputy governor, Michael Schickhofer, called the tragedy "incomprehensible" and said he could not express the city's pain. | The deputy governor, Michael Schickhofer, called the tragedy "incomprehensible" and said he could not express the city's pain. |
Wilhelm Krautwaschl, the Bishop of Graz, said he was deeply saddened by the attack. | Wilhelm Krautwaschl, the Bishop of Graz, said he was deeply saddened by the attack. |
"Shocked about what happened, I pray for the victims and for those hurrying to help them," he wrote on Facebook. | "Shocked about what happened, I pray for the victims and for those hurrying to help them," he wrote on Facebook. |
A memorial service for the victims was due to be held at the Grazer Stadtpfarrkirche at 6pm this afternoon. | A memorial service for the victims was due to be held at the Grazer Stadtpfarrkirche at 6pm this afternoon. |
The 2015 Austrian Grand Prix is currently being held at the Spielberg Ring about 40 miles from Graz. | The 2015 Austrian Grand Prix is currently being held at the Spielberg Ring about 40 miles from Graz. |