Months-Long Car Arson Series Stopped: Vienna Police Catch Arsonist

After a series of vehicle fires in Vienna-Donaustadt, the police were able to catch a suspected serial arsonist in the act on March 31. The 34-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested after he set a car on fire around 2:30 a.m. and then fled the scene.

Suspicion of serial offender confirmed

Since the end of January, the arson investigation unit of the Vienna State Criminal Police Office registered several burning vehicles in the 22nd district. The first arson was committed on January 31 on Pappelweg in the middle of the night, around 1:15 a.m. A car went up in flames. Since then, the suspect has struck a total of eight times, damaging ten cars in total, as in two cases the fire spread to vehicles parked nearby.

The evidence early on pointed to arson. Due to the repeated pattern of the crimes, there was also suspicion of a serial arsonist. The perpetrator reportedly smashed the windows of the cars and threw an incendiary device inside, said Dittrich. The cars burned out completely inside, each a total loss. The other crime scenes were also near the Mühlwasser area. The arsonist did not specialize in a specific car brand, setting fire to cars from various manufacturers.

34-year-old responsible for ten vehicle fires

The investigations were intensified and eventually led to a successful manhunt. In addition to the investigators from the LKA, officers from the North branch and the Donaustadt criminal investigation department were involved in the operation. The property damage amounts to around 100,000 euros.

The arrested individual has so far refused to make any statements. He was taken to a correctional facility. Investigations into the exact series of crimes and the background of the arson attacks are ongoing.

(Red)

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