Austrian Mayor Shot Dead in Hunting Dispute; Suspect on the Run

A manhunt is underway in northern Austria after two individuals, including Franz Hofer, the mayor of Kirchberg ob der Donau, were shot and killed, reportedly over a hunting dispute. The shooting occurred in the village of Altenfelden in Austria’s rural Mühlviertel region, close to the borders with Germany and the Czech Republic.

Authorities have identified Roland Drexler, 56, as the prime suspect. Following the killings, Drexler fled the scene in a Volkswagen Caddy, leading police to issue a warning that he is heavily armed and extremely dangerous. Upper Austria police, alongside special forces and helicopters, are actively searching for the suspect.

The incident appears to have stemmed from a prolonged disagreement over hunting rights, though it remains unclear why the conflict escalated so violently. Locals in the hunting community were familiar with Drexler, describing him as “a difficult person,” according to Kronen Zeitung, an Austrian news outlet.

The news has stunned the regional headquarters of the People’s Party (ÖVP) in Linz, with state party leader Florian Hiegelsperger describing the event as “madness.” Herbert Sieghartsleitner, state hunting master, expressed his disbelief, stating, “I am deeply shocked by what has happened. I knew Franz Hofer very well personally.”