Women harassed

Several women in Vienna harassed by stranger

The brazen snoop struck in the tranquil Schweizergarten. Pepper spray put an end to his wild goings-on.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

A 43-year-old man took advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday to harass women in Vienna's Schweizergarten - he also smelled their shoes until he was stopped with pepper spray ...

A 43-year-old Syrian man's fondness for women's shoes - and in particular their scent - became his undoing on Sunday. In the popular Schweizergarten, not far from the Belvedere, the hooligan sat down in the prevailing glorious weather with complete strangers, harassed them and also smelled their shoes. Until witnesses finally alerted the police.

Officers from the Fiakerplatz police station were finally able to observe the suspect tampering with a woman's shoulder bag at the "Quartier Belvedere" streetcar stop.

Escape from the law ends with pepper spray
When the Syrian noticed the investigators, he fled in a hurry. The detectives were on the spot in no time, but the fugitive resisted arrest with heavy kicks, punches and even elbow strikes. Only the quickly deployed pepper spray put an abrupt end to all his cravings and resistance. The raving man was then quickly restrained, but two officers were slightly injured.

After a night in police custody, the previously blameless man was released.

Polizeisprecher Markus Dittrich

"After a night in police custody, the previously blameless man was released", police spokesman Markus Dittrich briefly explained when asked by the "Krone".

However, charges have of course been filed and the alleged perpetrator is likely to face a hefty fine. Investigations into the exact course of events and the background are still ongoing!