Austria: Serbian citizen murders wife and sister-in-law

Austria: Serbian citizen murders wife and sister-in-law

Rafet R. is now held by the police on suspicion that he used a knife to stab his wife nine times and his sister-in-law three times, killing them both. He was afterwards seen "jumping on the body of his wife as if insane," Austrian media are reporting.

Sources close to the investigation said that both victims had bled to death. The suspect said he committed the murders "under the influence of alcohol and drugs." Investigators took a blood sample from him and are waiting for the results.

The killer allegedly also planned to murder his brother-in-law, but the man did not accompany his sisters on the fateful day.

Enisa R. worked in a shopping mall in the town. Her colleagues said she left her husband about ten days ago because she was exposed to physical violence, and was staying with her parents. The colleagues also said they offered to help her, but she refused, saying she was under police protection.

However, after the tragedy, officials have not confirmed that such procedure was in place.

On Tuesday, reports said that the victims were 30 and 29 years old, and that the killer was the husband of the older woman. The victims had three and two children, respectively.

Numerous witnesses saw the murders, while a man who attempted to help the two women was also injured.

An acquaintance of the suspected killer, who said his name was Rade, told the media that the attacker, who is a Muslim, two years ago "became a great believer overnight" and was often going to the mosque.

The suspect, who was according to media reports unemployed, on Tuesday morning said, "You will hear about me today," in this was "announcing the crime."