
A manhunt is underway after a 56-year-old man allegedly shot two people dead on Monday in the Mühlviertel region of Upper Austria, one of whom was a local mayor.
Police denied earlier reports of a third fatality. They advised anyone who spots the suspect, described as armed and dangerous, to call emergency services immediately and avoid approaching him.
A photo of the suspect has been posted on the Upper Austrian police’s Facebook page.
One of the victims has been identified as a mayor from the Rohrbach district. The motive behind the attack is believed to involve disputes within the hunting community, which has reportedly led to the closure of the Rohrbach district administrative office, with public services there suspended. Details on the second victim have not yet been released.
Upper Austria’s Governor, Thomas Stelzer, expressed profound sorrow, saying, “These incomprehensible acts have shocked our country. In these difficult hours, all our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and all those affected.”