A 14-year-old boy has been killed and five people wounded in a knife attack in southern Austria, Villach

Police said the suspect is a an another muslim, 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker.  He had a temporary residence permit and was waiting for a decision on his asylum application.

The incident took place around 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT) near the town's main square. Two of the five people injured were in a serious condition as of Saturday evening. Police initially said four people were wounded but a fifth person later came forward with minor injuries.

A delivery worker also a Syrian man, who had driven his vehicle at the attacker helped prevent more injuries. He witnessed the attack as he was driving by and deliberately rammed the knifeman.

The suspect was arrested shortly after by two female police officers. 

Some witness reports initially indicated a potential second attacker, leading to police shutting down train travel in the attack's immediate aftermath.

Austrian law means the attacker's identity has not been released.

The identity of the teenager who was killed has also not yet been disclosed.

The attack comes amid national debates over asylum laws