A 14-year-old girl is in custody following the fatal stabbing of a 65-year-old woman at a cemetery in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, February 23, 2026. The incident, which occurred at the Baumgarten Cemetery in the Penzing district, has prompted a large-scale police investigation.
According to police spokesperson Philipp Haßlinger, the girl is currently being held and is considered a prime suspect in the woman’s death. The victim was discovered with multiple stab wounds near Waidhausenstraße in the late afternoon. “The woman was found with numerous stab injuries,” Haßlinger stated.
Authorities were alerted to the scene around 5:30 PM local time, and the area around the cemetery was quickly cordoned off. Investigators from the Vienna Criminal Police Department were still working at the scene as of 9:00 PM, according to reports.
Early reports indicate the two individuals were not known to each other. The 14-year-old, who lives in a supervised housing facility, was apprehended there, and police recovered clothing and a knife believed to be the murder weapon from the residence. Witnesses had reportedly seen the girl with the knife prior to the discovery of the body. oe24.at reports that the girl is an Austrian citizen.
The victim has been identified as a 65-year-old woman from Vienna. Paramedics attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. wien.ORF.at reports that the woman likely died within the confines of the cemetery.
Police are investigating the possibility of a psychotic episode as a contributing factor in the attack, according to oe24.at. The case highlights the complexities of youth mental health and violent crime. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact motive behind the stabbing.
