Minister Karner calls for strict measures against youth crime in Vienna

Minister Karner calls for strict measures against youth crime in Vienna

In Vienna, discussions about youth crime and the willingness to use violence in society have recently gained momentum. On June 16th there was a violent robbery at Reumannplatz in Favoriten in which a man was attacked with a knife. The background to the attack appears to be alleged debts amounting to 310 euros. In this case, five Syrians were identified as suspects. Reported today that Interior Minister Gerhard Karner urgently called for knives and other weapons to be taken out of circulation in a current campaign to combat youth crime.

One of the frightening findings is the enormous increase in youth crime in Vienna. Over the period from 2020 to 2024, the number of suspected Syrians under the age of 14 increased sevenfold, while the number of suspects among Afghans under the age of 14 increased fivefold. Despite a nationwide decrease in crimes among 14 to 21 year olds of around 5 percent, Vienna recorded an increase of around 10 percent in this age group. In the first half of 2024 alone, there were already 333 underage Syrians as suspects, while in the current year there were already 947. What is particularly worrying is the increase in the number of Syrian suspects under the age of 14 in Vienna, which rose from 187 to 707.

Protective measures and police operations

On Tuesday, a targeted action against youth crime took place, at which Karner appeared together with LKA Colonel Gerhard Winkler and Vice President Franz Eigner of the Vienna Police. Between March 2024 and June 2025, a total of 187 weapons were seized in the weapons ban zone in Vienna's Favoriten, including 131 knives. Karner emphasized the need to protect children, educate young people and punish violent perpetrators. In addition, stopping family reunification was described as an important step in combating these problems.

It is worrying that general propensity for violence, particularly among young people, is also an issue across Europe. According to an analysis by Statista Youth violence in Germany reached a peak in 2024 with around 13,800 cases, more than twice as high as in 2016. An increase that also has psychological stress caused by the Corona measures and risk factors among young people seeking protection as possible causes.

Distressing incidents in local transport

Another example of the increasing willingness to use violence is the tragic knife attack at the Sophie-Charlotte-Platz subway station in Berlin, in which a 29-year-old German was the victim of an attack by a 43-year-old Syrian perpetrator. The argument that led to the fatal incident was accompanied by unclear motives and the perpetrator was known to the police due to previous violent crimes. The Berliner Zeitung reports that the perpetrator fled after the crime, but was then hunted down by the police.

In Berlin, the introduction of a ban on weapons in local public transport is currently being examined in order to curb such incidents. The current situation shows that all measures to combat violence and youth crime are not only urgent, but also necessary to create a safe environment for everyone.