Shock in Vienna-Ottakring: Shots in a restaurant claim a life!

Shock in Vienna-Ottakring: Shots in a restaurant claim a life!

A shocking incident occurred in Vienna-Ottakring on Thursday evening: shots were fired in a Turkish restaurant, resulting in two Chechens being taken to hospital with serious injuries. Unfortunately, one of the two died at the scene, while the other's life was in danger. The tragedy took place in the Veronikagasse/Payergasse area and may have resulted from an argument that started around 9:45 p.m. Suddenly a person pulled out a gun and fired several times at the two men. The shooter and an accomplice are currently on the run, and the police have launched a major manhunt that extends to several districts of Vienna. The Vienna State Criminal Police Office took over the investigation, while the area around the restaurant was cordoned off, as [Krone] reports.

The investigators already have initial clues about the shooter. There are reports that he may be of Serbian origin, although an Austrian citizen with a migrant background is also being considered. The motive for the crime remains unclear and the police are appealing to the public to provide any relevant information.

Context of crime in Vienna

Such incidents should be viewed in the light of current crime statistics in Austria. According to [Statista], around 528,000 crimes were reported in 2023, which is the highest level since 2016. Over a third of these crimes, around 186,000, occurred in Vienna, where crimes such as drug crimes and property crimes are very common.

The increase in foreign suspects is particularly noticeable. This, coupled with recent devastating incidents, is a cause for concern. In 2022, around 43% of suspects and convicts were foreigners, while the majority of new prisoners also had foreign roots.

How safe is Vienna really?

General security in Vienna is repeatedly questioned. A survey shows that over 70% of Austrians believe that immigrants make the crime problem worse. At the same time, there are concerns about Islamist terrorism, with 85% of the population calling for a stronger fight against it, while trust in the police stands at 77%.

Thursday's incident is further tragic evidence that something needs to change in our society. The police are called upon to strengthen prevention and ensure the safety of all citizens, and everyone must do their part to achieve this.

By the way, another incident was reported the day before in Ottakring, in which a 54-year-old bar owner was attacked by four young men. These incidents shed significant light on the situation in the city and call for discussion about the security situation in Vienna, which is characterized by an alarming crime rate.

We will continue to follow the developments of this shocking incident and hope for a quick clarification from the responsible authorities.