A religious dispute turns into a stabbing crime after an Afghan youth attacks his colleague in Vienna
A violent brawl broke out inside a shared apartment in the Brigittenau district of Vienna after a dispute over religious duties. A 26-year-old Afghan man is accused of stabbing his 27-year-old roommate, who is of the same nationality, due to the way he performed his prayers.
According to the police statement, the incident occurred around 6:30 PM on Thursday. The attacker, who moved into the apartment just a few weeks ago, is suspected of using a kitchen knife to injure the victim's hand. The injured person fled to the street and called emergency services.
The injured man received first aid at the scene before being taken to the hospital. The police in the Brigittenau district managed to arrest the suspect inside the apartment shortly after. A restraining order and a temporary ban on carrying weapons were also imposed on him.
Investigators reported that the suspect said his colleague "did not perform his religious duties correctly," considering that a reason for the attack. The knife used in the assault, which is about 20 centimeters long, was seized.
Authorities confirmed that the 26-year-old man was previously known to the police and had been convicted of aggravated assault, having already served a prison sentence. He is now in custody and charged with aggravated assault, while the Landeskriminalamt Wien (Vienna Criminal Police Office), Central/East Branch, continues to investigate the case.