The city council of Villach has released a statement following the attack in the city.

Mayor Günther Albel strongly condemned the attack, according to broadcasters ORF.

“Today in Villach we are confronted with the worst that could have happened,” he said.

The council called for measures at the federal level

Austrian police said the knifeman who stabbed five people, killing one, attacked people at random.

“A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife,” police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP of the incident in the city of Villach.

“One victim, a 14-year-old boy, died,” he added.

Peter Kaiser, the governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia, expressed his condolences to the family of the 14-year-old victim.

“This outrageous atrocity must be met with harsh consequences.

“I have always said with clarity and unambiguously: Those who live in Carinthia, in Austria, have to respect the law and adjust to our rules and values.”

Authorities said the suspect – a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria – has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker’s personal background.

“We have to wait until we get secure information,” he said.

Police said it wasn’t clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.

A 42-year old man who works for a food delivery company, witnessed the incident from his car.

He drove toward the suspect to stop the attack from escalating, police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF.

“This meant that we were able to arrest [the suspect] immediately,” he said.

Authorities said the suspect – a 23-year-old Syrian national with legal residence in Austria – has been detained by police after the attack in the city of Villach on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known and that police were investigating the alleged attacker’s personal background.

The victims were all men aged between 14 and and 32. Two were seriously injured in the attack, with the other two having sustained minor injuries.

“A man randomly attacked passers-by with a knife,” police spokesman Rainer Dionisio told AFP.

Police said it wasn’t clear whether the suspect acted on his own and are continuing to search for potential further suspects.

The incident happened on Saturday just before 4pm local time in the centre of the city in southern Austria.