At least 4 people injured in knife attacks in Vienna
Witnesses say man, wife and their adult daughter stabbed
BERLIN — Austrian police said at least three people were injured in a knife attack Wednesday on the streets of Vienna, with the attacker injuring a fourth nearby.
Vienna police said the attack happened at about 7:45 p.m. on Praterstrasse in the heart of Vienna.
“According to eyewitnesses, a man has attacked three persons — a man, his wife and their adult daughter,” police spokesperson Patrick Maierhofer told The Associated Press.
“The three persons suffered heavy to life-threatening injuries and are currently in a hospital.”
A fourth person was attacked with a knife nearby shortly afterward, police said.
“A link (between the attacks) is part of ongoing investigations.”
Witness Silvia Franke said she was about 100 metres away when the incident happened.
“I saw how someone in the middle of the street was screaming and shouting — I thought he was beating his dog judging from his hand movements,” she said. “And in reality he was stabbing this man.”
“He could have stabbed me as well had I been there by chance,” Franke said. “He had lost all control.”
A male citizen of Afghanistan was later arrested in connection with the second assault, but no further details were immediately available from police.