A large police manhunt is underway after several people have been shot in a small town in northern Austria, near the German border. According to Austrian media, several people have been killed – one of which is a local mayor.
According to the newspaper Kronen Zeitung is a hunter being hunted after “running amok” in Kirchberg ob der Donau. According to the police, the hunted hunter must be very dangerous. In addition to the mayor Franz Hofer, a hunting leader has been shot dead, according to reports.
Residents barricade themselves
Now residents in the area are barricading themselves in their homes while the police hunt the suspected murderer.
– Unfortunately, we assume that the wanted perpetrator is carrying the weapon, says police spokesperson Ulrike Handlbauer to Oberösterreichische Nachrichten.
Franz Hofer has represented the conservative and ruling Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the circumstances surrounding the shooting are unclear. Large areas have been cordoned off and helicopters are part of the search effort.