Hunter kills mayor and wounds two others in shooting spree: Manhunt underway as locals barricade themselves indoors in Austrian town

A hunter has killed an Austrian mayor and wounded two other people in a devastating shooting spree after he was accused of ‘unhuntsmanlike behaviour.’

Reports that shots were fired in the Rohrbach district of upper Austria were made to emergency services at around 8:30am local time this morning, where the mayor of the town of Kirchberg ob der Donau was killed. 

Residents have been told to barricade themselves indoors as Austrian cops hunt for the shooter, whose identity is not currently known an is still believed to be armed and dangerous.  Austrian authorities have sent in EKO Cobra, an elite special forces unit, to help apprehend the suspect.  

The mayor, named locally as Franz Hofer, was killed in the town of Altenfelden in the middle of a meadow, about 500 meters from the federal highway. He was a hunting director, according to local media, and had been a mayor since 2008, though was looking to retire soon. 

While a motive for the shocking spree has not yet been ascertained, Austrian newspaper Kurier reported that the mayor had recently filed a complaint against the fugitive for ‘unhuntsmanlike behaviour’. 

Austrian newspaper Die Presse reported that the two men were fighting over the allocation of hunting rights. 

The mayor of the town was killed by a man believed to be a hunter (File image of Kirchberg ob der Donau)

Acquaintances from the local hunting scene told the newspaper that the suspect was ‘problematic.’ 

The second victim, who has not been named and was found in nearby Arnreit, was also believed to have been a hunting director. The third victim has not yet been identified. 

State Hunting Master Herbert Sieghartsleitner: ‘I am deeply shocked by what has happened. I knew Franz Hofer very well personally. It is unbelievable what is happening right now.’ 

More to follow.