Villach Terror: Investigation Against Helping Syrian for Self-Defense Dropped

The authority sees the case as an act of emergency assistance - a special form of self-defense - it was stated in a press release on Friday.

During the Islamist terror attack on February 15, a 23-year-old Syrian randomly stabbed people in the center of Villach. A 14-year-old teenager was killed, and five other people were seriously injured, some critically. The 42-year-old, who was working as a food delivery driver, recognized the situation and ran over the attacker. It is assumed that this intervention prevented further bloodshed.

After Knife Attack in Villach: No Proceedings Against Man Who Stopped Attacker

After evaluating witness statements and video recordings, the public prosecutor's office has now determined that "the justification of emergency assistance (...) as a special form of self-defense applies." The attacker had not yet completed his act at the time of the intervention: "Against this background, there was an ongoing unlawful attack on a legally protected interest (life, health, and physical integrity)." And it is assumed that running over with the car was the "mildest available means."

The public prosecutor's office in Klagenfurt had routinely conducted investigations for bodily harm. There was no other option, it was said when the investigation became known - because bodily harm is an official offense, which means that the public prosecutor's office is obliged to investigate the suspicion. However, punishment of the 42-year-old was considered unlikely from the beginning.

(APA/Red)

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