Police Shot Fugitive ATM Bomber in Vienna: 24-Year-Old Arrested

During a police operation immediately following an ATM bombing in Vienna-Leopoldstadt early Sunday morning, the police shot a fleeing 24-year-old. He is in a hospital, as the state police department announced following a report by the "Kronen Zeitung." Three other suspects fled. An alarm search initially remained unsuccessful.

Arrest after ATM bombing in Vienna-Leopoldstadt, accomplices at large

The quartet blew up three ATMs in a bank branch on Vorgartenstraße at 4:00 AM. Due to surveillance measures for banks that have been ongoing for several weeks following a wave of ATM bombings, the police managed to arrive at the crime scene just a few minutes later.

On site, the officers caught a suspected member of the gang fleeing. This also led to a shot being fired at the suspect. "The circumstances of the shooting are not yet clarified," a police spokesperson told the APA. A media report that the subsequently shot perpetrator had attempted to rush at officers with a vehicle was denied. "There was no car involved," said the spokesperson. The three other suspects made their escape on scooters. The search for the ATM bombers was still ongoing.

24-year-old not in life-threatening condition

The shot Dutchman was taken to a hospital by the emergency services. He is not in a life-threatening condition, as the spokesperson said. Further details about his injuries were not yet available on Sunday. According to the police, the man is under guard.

The state police department also asked possible witnesses of the incident for information on Sunday: These can be provided - also anonymously - at any police station as well as at the Vienna State Criminal Police Office under 01-31310-33800.

SOKO after more than a dozen ATM bombings

With already more than a dozen ATM bombings in Austria since January, an exceptionally high number of such offenses has been recorded this year. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) recently responded by forming the "SOKO Bankomat." The goal is to compile data and create a complete picture of the situation in Austria - not least to share insights with international partners and thus identify cross-border groups, it was emphasized.

(APA/Red)

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