A 23-year-old man, Ahmad G., attacked several passersby with a knife, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy. A 41-year-old Syrian man, who stopped the attacker with his car, prevented further bloodshed.
Now, the “Hero of Villach” is facing the scrutiny of the law. The Klagenfurt State Prosecution confirmed to the Standard that it is investigating the man on suspicion of bodily harm. The legal background is that bodily harm is considered an official offense, requiring a legal review.
According to a State Prosecution spokesperson, the case may “end in a state of emergency” – a legal regulation that legitimizes actions to avert immediate danger. As the investigation is ongoing, the public is already debating whether the courageous actions of the man should have legal consequences.
Meanwhile, A. is facing massive threats, particularly from IS-affiliated circles. Out of fear for his safety, he has withdrawn from the public eye and is relocating with his family. Two crowdfunding campaigns have been launched to support him financially: Respekt.net has set a target of 11,000 euros, while the Común Community Foundation has also started a relief effort.
According to the initiator of the second campaign, Sebastian Bohrn Mena, the threats should be taken seriously. The depiction that A. is being threatened by his own community is false – the threats come from international, IS-affiliated networks. He emphasizes:
“It is repeatedly said that he is being threatened by his own, Syrian community and that this poses a security risk to the community as a whole. This is false.”
Kärnten’s Governor, Peter Kaiser (SPÖ), appealed to the lawmakers to handle the political review with caution, to avoid further unsettling the public.