
A 38-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly shooting his girlfriend with a bow and arrow in Graz on Sunday, leaving her with life-threatening injuries, police have confirmed.
At around 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, the 42-year-old woman managed to call emergency services, reporting that she had been shot with a bow and arrow inside a flat. Initially, she was unable to provide precise details of her location, but officers were able to trace the call to the flat belonging to the 38-year-old suspect.
Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered that the man had reportedly fired two arrows into the woman’s upper body. She was given immediate medical attention before being rushed to Graz Regional Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery later that day. She remains in critical but stable condition.
The suspect fled the scene in a car shortly after the attack, reportedly armed with a firearm. A large-scale manhunt was launched, and by 7:00 p.m., the police, aided by a helicopter, located the suspect’s vehicle at the edge of a forest in south-east Styria.
Special forces from Cobra, along with the Rapid Intervention Group, moved in to arrest the man, during which he sustained injuries in a shootout. He was airlifted to Graz Regional Hospital, where he is currently receiving intensive medical care.
Police have indicated that the couple – both Austrian nationals from Graz – are likely connected to the local drug scene. No evidence has yet emerged of previous violent incidents involving the pair. The motive for the attack remains unclear, with investigations ongoing.