Police say gunman shot and killed himself after opening fire into the crowd, apparently at random

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A gunman fired shots into a small crowd attending an open air concert in Austria’s westernmost province, killing two people and wounding 11 others before shooting himself to death, police said.

Police said the shooting in the state of Vorarlberg happened at a concert organised by a local motorcycle club.

The incident was preceded by a loud argument between the gunman and a woman in a nearby car park, police said. The man then fetched a gun out of his car, left the parking lot and went to a field that was used as a concert venue, where he started shooting into the crowd of about 150 people, apparently at random.

They said he killed himself after returning to the car park. The woman was not wounded in the shooting near Nenzing, a town about 24 miles east of Austria’s border with Liechtenstein.

State broadcaster ORF said the man apparently used a rifle or similar long weapon.

Local media quoted rescue workers as saying some of the surviving victims were in serious condition. Police spokeswoman Susanne Dilp said she could not confirm that but described their wounds as “very diverse.”

She refused to name the motorcycle club but described it as “regional” rather than international.

Dilp said no other details were available as police continued their investigation at the scene.

The incident did not appear to be linked to Sunday’s presidential election runoff vote in Austria that result in a victory for a far-right candidate, Norbert Hofer.