Brutal attack in Vienna: Syrian teenagers rob a twelve-year-old!

Brutal attack in Vienna: Syrian teenagers rob a twelve-year-old!

Last Saturday there was a brutal attack in Vienna-Fünfhaus in which three Syrian teenagers aged 13, 14 and 15 robbed a 12-year-old boy of his valuables. According to exxpress.at, the victim met the group on Meiselstraße, where there was a sudden demand for money. The young people showed no mercy: they beat the twelve-year-old and stole a small amount of cash, a necklace and a vest from him. The victim sustained minor injuries in the attack.

What was particularly frightening was that while the report was being recorded, the boy was able to recognize the alleged perpetrators on a missing person's report. These young people had already been reported as missing and were stopped in a group home for young people. The arrest and transfer to a prison took place on the orders of the Vienna public prosecutor's office. The young attacker was then handed over to the care of a legal guardian.

Alarming juvenile crime in Vienna

The incident highlights the worrying development of youth crime in Vienna. According to current police figures, violent and juvenile crime in the city has risen sharply in recent years. The total number of advertisements rose by 4.6% in 2024 to almost 195,000 cases. What is particularly alarming is that over 57% of the perpetrators come from abroad, as heute.at reports.

The number of reports against young people under the age of 18 has increased by 33%. The young people and children who are involved in criminal acts are getting younger and younger: in 2023 there were already 5,066 suspects between the ages of 10 and 14, compared to just 3,186 in 2014. Young people are often particularly aggressive in robberies and often target defenseless victims. As bmi.gv.at describes, youth gangs also fight for dominance in Vienna's parks, which leads to further violence in ethnically motivated conflicts between different groups.

Measures against rising crime

To counteract this worrying development, the city of Vienna has already launched several initiatives. An interdisciplinary working group to combat juvenile crime was set up last year. The aim is to intensify preventive measures and offer young people close support. The police are supported by special task forces that are supposed to take intensive care of young offenders.

There are also numerous projects, such as the “Under18” program, which will be launched in 2025 specifically for young people aged 12 and over. In order to sharpen the focus even more specifically, the working group is divided into various subgroups that deal with topics such as law enforcement, education and integration.

The incidents like the attack in Fünfhaus are a clear sign that it is time in Vienna to take the problems seriously and work together on solutions to ensure the safety of all citizens.