The rampage through Linz continues to cause a stir on Tuesday – as more and more details have become known since Monday’s insane act. Now another video shows that the alleged perpetrator (41) probably wanted to hijack another vehicle, a silver-gray Mini Cooper, at gunpoint to escape.
On Monday morning, the Iraqi is said to have seriously injured his 42-year-old wife in her apartment with two knife wounds, probably out of jealousy, and then fled. First, he drove to the Romanian’s work and threatened the alleged rival with two knives. He then raced through Linz in a rental car and drove straight into a 21-year-old police officer and a 26-year-old police officer at a roadblock. He snatched the assault rifle from the badly wounded officer.
The suspect then ran down a multi-lane road near the city limits of Linz. A number of vehicles stopped first. Then some drivers, aware of the dangerous situation, tried to turn around. But the shooter quickly approached the stationary car.
Attempt to hijack Mini fails
At gunpoint, he first threatened the driver of a Mini Cooper, who had already got out of his vehicle. The suspect ran towards the bystander. He was able to escape because the shooter apparently “only” aimed at his car. The suspect quickly got into the car, but he – it seems – failed to start the car. Possibly the driver of the Mini Cooper had taken out the keys.
Vehicle rolled away
Shortly afterwards, the suspect got out again, ran across the street to the nearest car, a VW Arteon, and – again with the assault rifle at the ready – forced the driver to leave his car. The driver got out with his hands up, but should not have secured his car against rolling away out of sheer fright. The VW moved forward a few inches. Therefore, the driver had to reach into the car again, probably to apply the handbrake. Then he quickly ran off.
Another accident shortly before arrest
Now the way was clear for the shooter. He got into the VW and drove off. But the escape did not last long. A short time later, he built another accident with this car. He got out again and approached a white van with an assault rifle in front of Hotel Kremstalerhof in Leonding to force the driver to hand over the vehicle.
Video: Shortly before his arrest, the suspect wanted to use a white van as a getaway vehicle
The suspect may have fired several times, according to a video and the description of hotel receptionist Selina F. “We heard three shots, ducked and ran to the back of the office where we hid,” she described the dramatic moments in the interview with “Krone”. “We didn’t know if he would come in with us.”
Stolen gun blocked
The person behind the wheel of the white van managed to escape when police officers fired several shots, forcing the 41-year-old to give up. A jamming of the Iraqi’s weapon should have prevented worse. Finally, he put down the stolen gun, raised his hands and was immediately arrested.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
