A Syrian family dispute in Vienna over the planned marriage of a 15-year-old girl escalated into a violent altercation on Tuesday evening, leading to a knife attack.
The incident occurred in Vienna-Landstrasse, where an 18-year-old Syrian man reportedly stabbed a 32-year-old man during a confrontation over the wedding plans for the underage schoolgirl, according to Oberösterreichisches Volksblatt.
The Vienna State Police Directorate confirmed that the victim sustained defensive wounds to both forearms after the 18-year-old suddenly pulled out a knife.
Following the attack, the assailant handed the weapon to a 20-year-old acquaintance, who then verbally threatened the injured man with death and attempted to stab him in the stomach. The 32-year-old managed to avoid further injury and was able to alert the authorities.
It is unclear why the man was attacked and who the 15-year-old girl was due to be betrothed.
Dominik Nepp, leader of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) in Vienna, expressed outrage at the incident, calling for the immediate deportation of those involved. In a statement, he criticized the cultural practices of some refugees from the Arab region, particularly regarding underage marriages and the use of violence to resolve disputes.
“The culture of the so-called refugees from the Arab region is and will never be ours!” Nepp remarked, emphasizing that such incidents highlight a failure of integration.
Nepp also reiterated the FPÖ’s stance on immigration, demanding a “zero immigration policy” to prevent further criminal acts that he claims undermine Austrian values.
The FPÖ’s hardline stance on immigration saw the party attract the most votes in the recent federal elections across Austria; however, it was announced this week that the party would not be involved in talks to form the next government.
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen revealed in a press conference on Tuesday that all other parties in the country had refused to work with the FPÖ and give its leader Herbert Kickl the keys to the chancellery.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the altercation, and further legal actions are expected as the case develops.
