Police in action: Aggressive perpetrator devastates detention cell in Vienna!

Police in action: Aggressive perpetrator devastates detention cell in Vienna!

There was a violent confrontation in Vienna-Penzing on Monday when two men attacked a taxi driver. The two perpetrators punched the man in the face and stole his cell phone. Thanks to a precise description of the person, the police were able to quickly arrest a suspect. The 24-year-old Polish citizen was aggressive during the arrest and injured three police officers. As he continued to resist in the detention cell, he bit an officer in the stomach, which further escalated the situation. The officers are shocked to report the violent incidents and mention that two of them were unable to continue their duties. The suspected man was eventually taken to a prison, but the background to his behavior remains unclear; Investigations are underway and it is being examined why the man freaked out so much sn.at.

Another disturbing incident occurred on Friday afternoon in a bank on Neilreichgasse at the corner of Troststrasse in the 10th district. While exchanging cash boxes for ATMs, two employees of the cash transport company witnessed an armed robbery. A perpetrator armed with a handgun fired at least one shot, allegedly injuring an employee in the ear canal. The robber then fled with cash on a scooter and threatened a passer-by with a weapon during his escape. Despite an immediate search and a strong police presence, the perpetrator remained at large for the time being. The investigation has now been taken over by the Vienna State Criminal Police Office. The description of the perpetrator is clear: a male, around 30-40 years old, 170-175 cm tall, dressed in dark clothing and masked with a pink wool hood and mouth and nose protection, who spoke German with a Viennese dialect oe24.at.

Current crime situation in Vienna

The violence evident in these incidents is part of a broader problem. According to current statistics, around 528,000 crimes were reported in Austria in 2023, the highest level since 2016. What is striking is the around 186,000 crimes reported in Vienna, which accounts for over a third of the total crimes. The theft rate is also increasing; around 85,400 thefts were registered in 2023, which is a record high. Immigration is the subject of public discussion, as around 43% of suspects in 2022 were foreigners, with the majority coming from Romania, Germany and Serbia. This gives the impression that foreign crime is a pressing problem, which is also reflected in the opinion of 70% of Austrians who believe that immigrants are making the crime problem worse statista.com.

With increased police presence and a close eye on crime developments in the city, the authorities are trying to give citizens a feeling of safety. There is also an increase in drug crime, with around 35,400 crimes reported in 2023, most of them in Vienna, and cannabis is the most common addictive substance. The police are determined to step up the fight against these crimes in order to maintain and further strengthen the trust of the population, which currently stands at 77%.