Manhunt in northern Austria: Mayor among shooting victims
Shooting in Northern Austria. Two individuals, including the current mayor, were shot dead in Mühlviertel. The perpetrator has not yet been apprehended, and a manhunt is underway.
According to Austrian media, information about a "firearm incident" in Mühlviertel, near the German border, surfaced in the early morning. The "Kronen Zeitung" reported that two bodies were found.
Media outlets 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 remains at large. According to media reports, he is a hunter, like the mayor who was shot. He is most likely armed. The area has been cordoned off, and hundreds of police officers are on the scene. The Cobra special unit is among those participating in the operation.
Local residents are barricading themselves in their homes and warning each other not to go outside, reporting that "someone has gone mad," according to "Kronen Zeitung".
Media sources suggest that the motive behind the crime is likely a long-standing dispute between hunters. Previous incidents had occurred, but the situation has now clearly escalated.
