Heroine in Vienna: Fought against knife robbers with a liqueur bottle!

Heroine in Vienna: Fought against knife robbers with a liqueur bottle!

On the night of Monday, August 25, 2025, there was a frightening attack in a wine bar in Vienna's Neubau district. A 48-year-old man, whose roots lie in Chechnya, entered the restaurant shortly before closing time with an urgent demand for cash. Immediately after his threat, he pulled out a knife and put pressure on the 27-year-old employee. In her moment of fear, the employee reacted quickly and called for help. This was heard by a courageous 22-year-old passer-by who entered the restaurant to intervene, reports Kosmo.

The situation came to a head when the perpetrator, who did not give up his criminal intentions despite threatening the employees, grabbed a bottle of liqueur and fled towards the city center. But that wasn't the end of his escape. The two women were not discouraged and gave chase. Thanks to their quick reaction and operational readiness, they were able to alert the police, who then intervened immediately.

Arrest and preservation of evidence

Officers from the Vienna-Josefstadt city police command were quickly on site and arrested the suspect just a short time later. During the search of the perpetrator, not only the stolen liquor bottle was seized, but also the folding knife, which was presumably used as the murder weapon, and various drug-taking paraphernalia. The confiscated items were seized as evidence and the 48-year-old, who is now being held on suspicion of attempted aggravated robbery, faces a severe sentence.

This incident is part of the worrying development of the crime rate in Vienna. According to a report from Vienna, the number of robberies and violent crimes in the city rose sharply in 2024. In the area of ​​robbery crimes alone, there were 1,394 reported cases, which corresponds to an increase of 18.1 percent compared to the previous year. The police have already taken preventive measures, but the challenge remains great.

Know the dangers and act

The increase in violent crime, particularly in public spaces, is alarming. The number of suspects, especially among young people, has increased significantly in recent years. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the statistics showing a worrying increase in juvenile crime. According to criminaldata.at, over 14,800 young people were reported as suspects in 2024; an increase compared to the already high numbers of previous years.

Against this background, the passerby's reaction is even more remarkable. She demonstrated courage and determination by not looking away, but by actively intervening to avert the impending disaster. Your actions could serve as an example of moral courage. At a time when safety on the streets and in places has increased, it is crucial for citizens to not only pay attention, but also to act to support others in need.

Let's follow the developments and research that both Kosmo and Today as well as Vienna have initiated in order to continue to provide information about the true nature of security and crime in Vienna in the future.