WORLD NEWS

Austrian mayor shot dead with suspect on the run, police say

Oct 28, 2024, 9:53 AM

Police patrol near Rohrbach, Upper Austria, after two people were shot dead on October 28....

Police patrol near Rohrbach, Upper Austria, after two people were shot dead on October 28. (Antonio Bayer/APA/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

(Antonio Bayer/APA/AFP/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

(CNN) —A manhunt is underway in northern Austria after a hunter allegedly fatally shot two people and fled the scene, local police said Monday.

Franz Hofer, mayor of Kirchberg ob der Donau, was killed in the village of Altenfelden in Austria’s rural Muhlviertel region, near the border with Germany and the Czech Republic.

A second man was also shot dead a short while later, Upper Austria police spokesperson Ulrike Handelbauer told CNN.

A large-scale police operation with helicopters and special forces is underway, she said.

Police said Roland Drexler, 56, is suspected of having killed the two men and made a getaway in a Volkswagen Caddy. “The man is believed to be extremely dangerous and armed,” police said.

A dispute over hunting rights appeared to have sparked the incident, police added. It was not immediately clear why a long-running feud had escalated.

According to Kronen Zeitung, a local outlet, the suspect was known to hunters in the area. “He was a difficult person,” said a hunter from the area who wished not to be named.

The shooting shocked officials at the People’s Party (OVP) regional headquarters in Linz. “It’s madness,” said state party leader Florian Hiegelsperger.

Herbert Sieghartsleitner, the state hunting master, said the incident was “unbelievable.”

“I am deeply shocked by what has happened. I knew Franz Hofer very well personally,” he said, according to Kronen Zeitung.


The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

KSL 5 TV Live

World News

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to a NATO ...

Jim Morris, Associated Press

Justin Trudeau reportedly says Trump’s talk of making Canada a US state is ‘a real thing’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Donald Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state is “a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.

2 days ago

Palestinians walk in the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, Ga...

Lucas Lilieholm, Michael Schwartz and Helen Regan, CNN

Israel backs Trump plan and orders military to prepare for Palestinians to leave Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has backed US President Donald Trump’s proposal to “take over” Gaza.

3 days ago

The Olympic rings at the Utah Olympic Park...

Will Graves National Writer, AP

Trump administration plans to pressure the IOC for a uniform transgender athlete ban

President Donald Trump is ready to take his fight against transgender athletes to the International Olympic Committee.

4 days ago

FILE - U.S. Postal Service trucks park outside a post office in Wheeling, Ill., Monday, Jan. 29, 20...

Eric Cheung and Ramishah Maruf, CNN

US Postal Service suspends incoming parcels from China and Hong Kong

The US Postal Service says it has temporarily suspended the acceptance of incoming international parcels from China and Hong Kong until further notice.

5 days ago

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet Tuesday, ...

Kevin Liptak, CNN

Trump says Palestinians should leave Gaza permanently and US will ‘take over’ strip

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US “will take over” the Gaza Strip, after saying earlier that he doesn’t think there is a permanent future for Palestinians in Gaza.

5 days ago

Police at the scene of an incident at Risbergska School, in Örebro, Sweden, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025....

STEFANIE DAZIO

10 killed at adult education center, officials say it’s Sweden’s worst mass shooting

About 10 people, including the gunman, were killed on Tuesday at an adult education center in what Sweden’s prime minister called the country’s worst mass shooting.

5 days ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Austrian mayor shot dead with suspect on the run, police say