Austria was rattled this week after a violent knife attack in Vienna’s Donaustadt district, where a 50-year-old Afghan man allegedly stabbed his own daughter in what investigators describe as an “honor based” assault, according to “Heute”. The attack, which occurred Monday evening, sparked national outrage and renewed debate over deportation policies.
According to police, the man reportedly flew into a rage after learning his 15-year-old daughter had a boyfriend. He is accused of grabbing a kitchen knife and repeatedly stabbing her in the upper body and neck. Passersby heard the teenager’s desperate screams and immediately called emergency services. A nearby doctor rushed to the scene and administered first aid before paramedics arrived.
The girl underwent emergency surgery and is now out of life-threatening danger. Investigators say she has already been able to provide a statement, telling authorities that her father attacked her suddenly and without warning. The suspect was arrested at the scene and admitted the basic circumstances during initial questioning but has since refused to answer further inquiries.
Early in the investigation, authorities said deportation to Afghanistan might not be possible because the suspect’s citizenship could not be confirmed. But on Friday night, Austria’s Interior Ministry announced a major development: officials had verified his Afghan nationality and immediately launched a procedure to revoke his protection status.
“The suspect is Afghan, the revocation process has been initiated,” the ministry told the newspaper Heute. Deportation, they added, could take place after the conclusion of criminal proceedings, in accordance with Austrian law.
Police have recovered the kitchen knife believed to be the weapon. Meanwhile, the 15 year old victim continues to recover, as the country grapples with yet another case fueling heated discussions over integration, public safety, and Austria’s approach to violent crimes within immigrant communities.
