"Hate Crime": Number of Arrests Increases
For 13 of the suspects arrested in Austria, detention in the correctional facility has been ordered. The court will decide on the imposition of pre-trial detention over the weekend.
Regarding a person arrested in Slovakia, extradition has been requested from the authorities of the neighboring country, Kroschl further stated. In addition, 26 house searches have been carried out. "Numerous items were secured and the data carriers of the accused were confiscated for forensic analysis," said the spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office. He also pointed out that more information on the case is "currently unfortunately not possible for tactical reasons."
The police had previously announced on Saturday upon request that further perpetrators, acts, and victims had been identified and arrests had been made. During a raid early Friday morning, handcuffs were put on 15 people, later it was reported to be 16. At least 17 victims were identified.
Homosexuals as Victims
The victims are homosexuals who were falsely accused of pedophilia by the suspects. According to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) Styria, they were robbed, injured, and humiliated. Intentional serious bodily harm is suspected, and in one case, attempted murder. Weapons and Nazi memorabilia were found during the house searches.
The police assume a high number of unreported cases in this "Hate Crime" case. Therefore, on Saturday, victims were again urged to contact the LKA in Graz (Tel.: 059133 / 603333).
Cobra and WEGA in Action
About 400 police officers and detectives, special forces from the Cobra task force, and WEGA were involved in the nationwide operation, except in Carinthia and Vorarlberg, as well as in neighboring Slovakia early Friday morning. Hate crime involves bias-motivated offenses. The perpetrators deliberately choose the victims because they belong to a group they reject.
The APA learned that there were four arrests and five house searches in Lower Austria. The ORF program "Wien heute" reported on Friday evening about three searches in the federal capital.
(APA/Red)
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