Makes no statements

Triple murder in Asia Studio: man (27) in custody

(Bild: Klemens Groh)

On Tuesday afternoon, the regional court ordered the 27-year-old man who is alleged to have deliberately killed three sex workers with a knife in an Asia Studio in Engerthstraße in Vienna-Brigittenau to be remanded in custody. Court spokeswoman Christina Salzborn announced in response to an APA inquiry that the reasons for the arrest were the risk of committing the crime and the risk of absconding.

The accused comes from Afghanistan and arrived in Austria as an asylum seeker in 2022. He was last accommodated in a refugee shelter in Carinthia, where he deregistered at the end of January in accordance with regulations and is believed to have moved to the federal capital.

Registered for return home
There had been "no incidents whatsoever" with the 27-year-old in the refugee accommodation in the Wolfsberg district, said Barbara Roschitz, head of the Carinthian state refugee service. However, as "Kärnten heute" reported on Monday evening, the man is said to have recently registered with the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) to return to his home country.

The identity of the three victims has not yet been established beyond doubt.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV, Peter Tomschi)

Suspect does not want to give any details
Since Sunday evening, the 27-year-old has been in the Vienna-Josefstadt correctional facility (JA), after he "basically confessed" in his police interrogation as a suspect, according to the Vienna Provincial Police Directorate. It has been reported from prison guard circles that the man has not spoken a word since his transfer to the JA. He also did not make any statements to the magistrate who issued the detention order. He is said not to have responded to the judge's questions. The accused was also not represented by a lawyer. He is now - as provided for by law - being provided with a legal aid.

Psychiatric report initiated
The public prosecutor's office has already initiated the obtaining of a psychiatric report. The aim of this is to clarify whether the accused is mentally incompetent or other grounds for ruling out guilt.

Identity not yet established beyond doubt
The 27-year-old had caused a bloodbath with a knife in the establishment in Engerthstraße on Friday evening. The identity of the three women who were killed - probably Chinese women who may have come to Austria as sex workers with false papers - was not yet known beyond doubt. A fourth woman was able to save herself by locking herself in a room. She witnessed the violent crime, which took place in several rooms. She is said to still be in a state of severe shock.

The suspect was discovered under this bridge.

(Bild: Peter Tomschi)

Suspect first taken to hospital
The suspect was arrested in a bush opposite the red-light establishment after a local resident called the police at around 9 p.m. on Friday. He had noticed a trail of blood leading from the bar to the other side of the street - the 27-year-old may have injured his own hands in the course of the fight. He was therefore first treated in hospital before being taken to police custody and questioned about the incident.