State Police President calls for a ban on the knife to AmoFlauf in Graz
State Police President calls for a ban on the knife to AmoFlauf in Graz
Liesing, Österreich - The mood in Vienna has been clouded since a rampage at a high school in Graz left deeper traces on June 14, 2025. The 21-year-old perpetrator shot nine young people and a teacher and then took his own life. This terrible incident has fueled the discussion about security measures in Austria, especially with regard to the possession and use of weapons. State Police President Gerhard Pürstl is now also calling for a general ban on knife in public space to avert potential dangers. In an interview with meinzirk.at expressed Pürstl that the seriousness of the threats had to be taken and suitable measures had to be taken.
Felix Kühn, a 21-year-old who has been in the school psychological service in Vienna since 2015, repeatedly criticized in the past that not only the supervision of endangered young people, but also the networking of the authorities must be improved. According to the tragedy in Graz, this has received new urgency. The Austrian government is planning measures to tighten weapons laws that should include a higher minimum age for gun ownership as well as stricter psychological tests, as tagesschau.de
new rules for security in public space
The amoclauf -related uncertainties ensure that both the police and the government deal intensively with the topic of weapons laws. Pürstl emphasizes that in 2022 a total of 175 dangerous items, including around 120 knives, were ensured. "Why should someone carry a knife with them in public space?" Asks the state police president. According to Pürstl, knives in urban areas are a great security risk and he demands urgent measures for their prohibition.
The intended tightening of the weapons law could set new standards. Chancellor Christian Stocker has announced that measures such as increasing the minimum age for gun ownership will soon be decided. "We have to act preventively and not leave the youth in the rain," explains Pürstl in another statement on .
more efficient resource use of the police
The police themselves are also taken into account in the planned restructuring. A reduction in party traffic in police inspections on Sundays and public holidays is intended to increase the presence in the patrol service. Statistics show that on average on average, less than one person per inspection appears to do administrative matters. Pürstl thinks it makes more sense to use the officials where they are needed - on the street, with the citizens.
While the plans are concretized, it remains to be seen how quickly and effectively these measures can be implemented. However, Pürstl is optimistic and sees the close cooperation between the police and educational directorate as the key to security. In this critical period, it is important that the population is well informed and protected by the responsible bodies.
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| Ort | Liesing, Österreich |
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