Nurse and priest overpower Syrian knifeman in Linz, Austria

Thanks to courageous passers-by, a woman survived a knife attack by her jealous partner on the Danube embankment in Linz: Because the man could not be calmed down, a nurse jumped into his back with her legs – a priest was also involved in the courageous rescue operation.

The two Syrian asylum seekers (he 52, she 41) had gotten into an argument on Monday evening. Apparently, it was about the woman having contact with another man via social media, which displeased her partner. In the course of the quarrel, the two left their flat, leaving their eleven-year-old twins at home. In the street, the man allegedly attacked the woman with a Stanley knife, which he said he happened to have with him. The second stab already caused massive injuries to the neck, said Ulrike Breiteneder, spokeswoman for the public prosecutor, after which the woman received further cuts.

It was “a chain of fortunate circumstances” that saved the woman from death, state police director Andreas Pilsl described in a background interview with Breiteneder on Wednesday. Her authority assumes attempted murder in the case – the man thus faces ten to 20 years or even life in prison if convicted – that is why she has applied for pre-trial detention.

The investigators assume that the woman would not have survived had it not been for the courageous intervention of passers-by, who all happened to be passing by the crime scene: The most courageous action was taken by a nurse who jumped into the perpetrator’s back with her legs, thus ending the attack. A priest also tried to keep the man away from the woman. The clergyman was then threatened with the knife himself. A doctor who was travelling by car immediately gave first aid and finally an ambulance came along, whose crew immediately treated the woman and took her to hospital. The initial danger to her life was averted there by an emergency operation.

The Syrian was arrested on the spot. He claims to remember the fight and his arrest, but not the crime itself. According to the public prosecutor’s office, he does not deny it either. He is being investigated for attempted murder and for making dangerous threats against the clergyman.

The victim (41) has also already been questioned in hospital. She spoke of an attack out of the blue. Her husband – they are married according to Islamic law – had wanted to take her mobile phone to see who she was in contact with. The alleged perpetrator was not previously known to the authorities, nor had the family had any incidents related to domestic violence, the background interview said. The children are currently in private care. Andreas Pilsl wants to nominate the courageous passers-by for a “red ribbon medal”.

https://exxpress.at/krankenschwester-und-pfarrer-ueberwaeltigen-syrischen-messerstecher-in-linz/