Attacked with a knife: man in Vienna defends himself bravely!

Attacked with a knife: man in Vienna defends himself bravely!

In the late evening hours of June 9, 2025, a suspected robbery occurred on Klausenberger Strasse in Vienna's 10th district, near the U1 station Troststrasse. Two unknown perpetrators attacked a man and demanded his cell phone and wallet under threat of violence. The victim, a brave fellow, defended himself against the attackers and sustained minor injuries, as Heute reports.

Astonishingly, the incident was reported to emergency services more than an hour late, raising questions about the quick response of bystanders. It remains unclear whether passers-by failed to respond to the situation or why the police were not informed of the events until after this time frame. The Vienna State Criminal Police Office, South branch, has now initiated investigations against the unknown perpetrators. Fortunately, they managed to escape without taking any prey.

Increasing number of knife attacks

The increase in knife attacks in Austria has already been making headlines in recent years. According to [Vienna.at](https://www.vienna.at/zahl-der-messerattacken- Nimm-in-vergangenheit-zu/8633932), the number of reported violent crimes involving stabbing weapons rose from 1,524 in 2013 to 2,393 in 2022. The peak was reached in 2016 with 2,530 attacks. The statistics show that between 2016 and 2022, annual advertisements constantly fluctuate between 2,100 and 2,500. In contrast, the number of violent crimes involving firearms has fallen significantly, raising questions about safety in public spaces.

In response to these worrying developments, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) is planning a general ban on weapons in public spaces. Experts are currently working on a law that could potentially ban the carrying of certain knives in the future. There are currently gun ban zones in heavily frequented places, such as Vienna's Praterstern or Innsbruck, which are intended to reduce the risk of violent acts.

Public safety under criticism

The repeated reports of knife attacks keep bringing the issue of public safety back onto the agenda. Not only those affected by such attacks, but also society as a whole are increasingly focusing on preventive measures to counteract the increasing violence. Citizens want solutions that enable safe coexistence.

In view of the incidents and the alarming statistics, it is essential that the authorities continue to work intensively to investigate such acts and at the same time focus on preventive measures. This is the only way to ensure that the streets of Vienna remain safe.