Manhunt in Austria: Mayor killed in shooting tragedy
Shooting in northern Austria. Two people, including the incumbent mayor, were shot dead in Mühlviertel. The perpetrator has not yet been apprehended. A manhunt is underway.
3:01 PM EDT, October 28, 2024
According to Austrian media, early in the morning, information about a "firearm incident" in Mühlviertel, near the German border, surfaced. According to "Kronen Zeitung," two bodies were found.
Media report that one of the victims is Franz Hofer, the mayor of the municipality of Kirchberg ob der Donau. The identity of the second victim is not yet known. There are also reports of a third body, but these have not been confirmed by the police.
A manhunt is underway; residents have barricaded themselves
The perpetrator has not yet been apprehended. According to media reports, he is, like the slain mayor, a hunter and is most likely armed. The area has been cordoned off, and hundreds of police officers are on the scene. Among others, the Cobra special unit is participating in the operation.
Local residents are barricading themselves in their homes and are warning each other not to go outside because "someone has gone mad," reports "Kronen Zeitung."
According to the media, the background of the crime is most likely a long-standing dispute between hunters. There had been incidents before, and now the situation has clearly escalated.
