Psychological state of emergency: man critically injured in Brigittenau!

Psychological state of emergency: man critically injured in Brigittenau!

Last Saturday, June 15, 2025, there was a dramatic police operation in Brigittenau that caused excitement in the neighborhood. A 28-year-old man was in a psychological state of emergency and threatened the emergency services with a knife. The situation suddenly escalated when the police intervened after the man's parents called 911 at 1:30 p.m., concerned for their son's well-being.

Due to the worrying circumstances, the Brigittenau city police command sent several emergency services to the man's apartment. Since he did not respond to knocks, the Vienna fire department opened the apartment door. When they entered the apartment, the officers encountered the aggressive man who stormed towards them from the kitchen with a knife. A first attempt with a Taser was unsuccessful and the situation quickly spiraled out of control.

Shots and emergency medicine

To protect himself and others, an officer ultimately fired shots at the attacker, causing the 28-year-old to suffer life-threatening injuries. The Vienna professional rescue service was immediately on site, provided emergency medical first aid and took the man to hospital. The Vienna State Criminal Police Office has taken over the investigation into this incident. In addition, the use of firearms is investigated by the Federal Unit for Violence Prevention in cooperation with the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office, which is a common step in such operations.

The incidents in Brigittenau highlight the challenges that the police face when responding to psychological crisis situations. Something similar was observed in Germany, where 37 people have been shot by the police in comparable situations since 2019. Experts are calling for urgent reforms and better preparation of officers when dealing with mentally ill people, but the necessary financial resources and staff are often lacking to ensure appropriate training, as Tagesschau reports.

A call for change

Such tragic events have increased sharply in recent years and the topic is increasingly being viewed critically. An example is the case of 16-year-old Mouhamed Lamine Dramé, who was shot by police in 2022 after being found in a youth welfare facility with a knife in his hand. This incident illustrates the acute questions about training and how the police deal with people in exceptional psychological situations, which was also confirmed by a comprehensive investigation by FragDenStaat.

There are currently hardly any uniform standards for training in dealing with mental health crises within the police. Only three federal states have mandatory training for civil servants on this sensitive topic. When investigations are often discontinued, it is often difficult to ensure a comprehensive investigation.

Overall, the police operation in Brigittenau is an example of the many challenges that officers face when dealing with crisis situations. The incident not only causes concern among the Brigittenau population, but also raises serious questions about the use of violence and the correct way to deal with people who find themselves in exceptional psychological situations. It remains to be hoped that the upcoming investigations and discussions about reforms in police training will lead to a safe and humane solution.

For more information about developments surrounding this incident and the ongoing discussions about how police handle mental health crises, visit My District.