Austria: Man drives van into pedestrians, killing two, and launches knife attack in Graz

[Bosonic]

Source: IBTimes

A man drove a van into a crowd of people in Graz, Austria, killing two and injuring 50, local media is reporting.

Public broadcaster ORF said the man had been arrested and the police had sealed off the central area of Austria's second city where the incident took place.

It cited witnesses saying the man had ploughed his vehicle into the Saturday crowd at random, with pedestrians crashing off the windscreen and over the van.

The man got out of his van and attacked pedestrians with a knife before being arrested, reported Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/austria-man-drives-van-into-pedestrians-killing-two-launches-knife-attack-graz-1507164

[Archae]

1. I hope it's just a guy off his nut.

Not some ISIS-inspired wack job.

[Igel]

2. The one other thing we apparently know from that article is he's Bosnian.

That does not bode well.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. There was a similar attack in Japan a few years ago

Same MO-- guy runs into pedestrians with a van, then gets out and starts knifing people. In the Japanese case, the perpetrator was angry at computer geeks for some reason and decided to make his attack at a pedestrian mall in the Akihabara district of Tokyo-- a magnet for computer enthusiasts.

[Yo_Mama]

8. That's what the Austrian police seem to think - a lone whacko n/t

[Yo_Mama]

10. According to the Austrian police, there was a domestic violence incident on March 28th

http://www.kleinezeitung.at/s/steiermark/graz/4759030/BLUTTAT-IN-GRAZER-INNENSTADT_Amoklenker-parkte-sein-Auto-vor-der

17.29 Uhr: Die kolportierte Wegweisung des Täters aufgrund häuslicher Gewalt wird während der Pressekonferenz bestätigt. Sie passierte am 28. Mai.

The perp is married with two children. The above says that removal from the home on grounds of domestic violence will be confirmed in the press conference. It happened on the 28th of May.

[cosmicone]

11. He probably was an ISIS inspired not-so-whack job. n/t

[Paladin]

4. Gun militants incoming in 3...2...1...

Gotta ban them cars, yup, yup. Gotta have lotsa laws against knives, uh-huh, uh-huh........

[sulphurdunn]

5. That's one hell of a red herring

you just cooked up.

[Paladin]

6. Actually, its based on 14 years of active participation here at DU....

....and seeing the phenomenon happen, over and over again. Our resident Gun Enthusiasts hardly ever let a big car wreck or a slaughter involving knife usage go by without trying to use it to their benefit.

[sulphurdunn]

7. That is true.

[For Freddie]

9. Wayne La Pierre...

Paid him. Follow the money.
You see it is not about race, or religion.
Guns don't kill people , Bosnians in vans with knives do.
Now let's forget all about the little upset in this country
and listen to Donald Trump.

[frylock]

13. First thing I thought as well. This is a twofer for them.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Police rule out terrorism

The attacker, who police say is Austrian of Bosnian descent, then ploughed across the busy square, which was hosting an event relating to the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix which is being held nearby, ramming into an outdoor dining table full of people.
...
The 26-year-old, who is married with two children and reportedly facing a divorce, had been evicted from his home because of domestic violence on May 28, police confirmed, saying they believe the man was struggling to cope with "family problems".

Josef Klamminger, National Police Director, said they could "absolutely rule out an extremist, religious or political background" to the attack, saying it was the act of a "lone wolf".
...
Siegfried Nagl, mayor of Graz, witnessed the attack in his rear-view mirror while riding his Vespa motor scooter metres away from the speeding car, and only managed to escape by driving on the sidewalk.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11468722