Graz Austria: Man Deliberately Drives Into Crowd, Killing Three

[Formaldehyde]

The city was holding an event in association with the Austrian GP F1 race, which occurs at the nearby track. Many of the journalists covering the event were staying there. The car was reported on NBCSN during the race coverage that the car was going 60 mph.

Man kills 3 driving into crowd in Austria -- on purpose, authorities say

(CNN)Three people have died and dozens more are injured after a man drove into a crowd -- on purpose, the local government says -- Saturday in the Austrian city of Graz.

The 26-year-old male driver intentionally used his vehicle as a weapon, the Graz City Council said in a statement.

Roman Sommershsacher, a spokesman for the Austrian city's government, said the man drove through Graz's inner city -- including into a place where cars are not normally allowed -- trying to hit people.

One of the three fatalities is a child. At least 34 more people suffered injuries, Sommershsacher said, including ten seriously and one in critical condition.

The driver -- described as an Austrian citizen with Serbian roots -- has been arrested, officials said at a Saturday afternoon press conference.

The officials added that they don't know the man's motive but do not believe it has anything to do with terrorism.

Photos from the scene showed a mangled bike and what appeared to be a body draped by a white sheet.

Located in Styria province in southeastern Austria, Graz is that country's second-most populous city.

EDIT: BBC has better coverage.

The city's mayor, Siegfried Nagl, witnessed the incident.

"The driver deliberately drove into pedestrians. I myself saw a woman being run over," he told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

Another witness described a lucky escape.

"I was having cappuccino on the main square when people started screaming and then there was the loud noise coming from a car engine. I leapt to safety in a nearby arcade."

There are unconfirmed reports that after crashing the man left the vehicle and attacked people with a knife.

 

[Phrossack]

Wow. I've been thinking of going to Graz lately, and would have visited on a weekend like this.

Any idea on the motive as of yet?

 

[Formaldehyde]

The authorities are claiming it probably wasn't likely an act of terrorism. But other than that, no.

A similar incident occurred here in Florida about 10 years ago. A man decided to plow over a bunch of bicyclists who were riding abreast in a pack. But he wasn't doing 60 mph and nobody died.

And this incident completely escaped my attention:

Driver in deadly South by Southwest crash 'intentionally' drove car into crowd, report says

Austin police said a rapper with a criminal history “intentionally” drove into a crowd Thursday morning at the South by Southwest festival, killing two people, MyFoxDFW.com reported.

Rashad Owens, 21, who police say was behind the wheel, was charged with capital murder Friday, and other charges may follow. A district judge Friday set bail for Rashad Charjuan Owens at $3 million. He remains jailed.

Police are waiting on blood tests to determine his blood alcohol level.

"For me from his actions, from what I've seen this is an individual that showed no regard for human beings. He plowed through in his attempt to get away," Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said, calling Owens' actions intentional.

Owens, who was supposed to perform later that night, reportedly has a lengthy criminal history. It includes a 2010 arrest for criminal trespassing in Killeen, a 2011 conviction for DUI in Alaska and in 2012 he was arrested in Fairbanks for criminal mischief. The Honda Civic he was driving at the time of the deadly crash had been reported stolen out of Killeen, the report said.

Austin police said officers tried to pull Owens over at a gas station near Interstate 35 for suspected drunken driving, but he drove off. He crashed through festival barricades and mowed down more than two dozen people on Red River Street.

 

[Gary Childress]

Wow! What have I been missing out on? Hey, I could just drive down a street and kill people with my car! Yeah! I should just do that, because...well...it's just a fun thing to do! Or...hmm...would it be wrong?

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Someone with Serbian roots killing Austrians? I'm sure nothing will come out of it.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Well, he apparently killed other Austrians. But if he's Muslim, I'm sure you are right.

If this happened in the US, and the statement was made by a member of the staff of the Secretary of State that it probably wasn't terrorism, congressmen would already be calling for her head.

 

[Domen]

^ Serbs are "by definition" Orthodox.

If Serbs are Muslim, then they are called Bosniaks.

If Serbs are Catholic, then they are called Croats.

 

[Mechanicalsalvation]

The TV reports the guy was a psycho so no terrorist...