Explosion in Ottakring

Major operation in Vienna: Apparently one person dead

Armed special forces were lifted to the apartment using a fire department turntable ladder.

(Bild: APA/Max Slovencik)

A man was apparently shot by police in Vienna's Ottakring district on Wednesday night during an operation to open an apartment - he is believed to have entrenched himself beforehand and ultimately died. The large-scale operation lasted several hours and there is also said to have been an explosion. Six people were injured.

On Tuesday evening at 9 p.m., a large-scale police operation took place on Thaliastraße in Ottakring: a "middle-aged man" was reportedly shot while opening an apartment. He was killed.

The incident unfolded over several hours: Armored vehicles from the special units WEGA and Cobra cordoned off the area extensively beforehand - rescue and fire departments were also on the scene.

Pictures of the large-scale operation in Thaliastrasse:

Objects thrown out of the window
The suspect had probably barricaded himself in the apartment and thrown objects out of his window. "We then tried to make contact with the man with a negotiation team," said police spokesman Markus Dittrich, describing the events.

However, this failed, there was hardly any conversation, although the officers spoke to the man in several languages through the front door. The investigators were also unable to rule out the possibility that they had heard the voices of other people behind the door. So the decision was made to open the apartment.

Explosion during police operation
What happened next on Wednesday night was initially very unclear. Shots were fired and an explosion occurred. This resulted in a fire, which was extinguished by the fire department - as the police announced on X. It was unclear whether the explosion had been triggered by the suspect or whether it was a gas deflagration - possibly caused by appropriate manipulation.

The police gave updates on the operation on X:

There was initially a suggestion that the man had stashed explosives. "Fortunately, we didn't find any," said Dittrich on Wednesday night. "However, we did recover a handgun."

Explosions probably triggered by gas deflagration
The lack of explosives made the theory of a gas deflagration increasingly likely. The investigators at least did not rule out the possibility that it had been caused deliberately. The identity of the man and his motive initially remained unclear. During the course of the night, Dittrich was able to confirm that the suspect had been alone in the apartment. This disproved earlier rumors that it could have been a hostage situation.

"Six people with minor injuries treated"
"We treated six people with minor injuries, who we also hospitalized," reported Corinna Had, spokeswoman for the professional rescue service. According to Dittrich, it is possible that emergency personnel were also among the injured.

An operation is currently taking place in Klausgasse in the 16th district. The area is cordoned off. Avoid this area and follow the instructions of the intervening forces.

Die Wiener Polizei in der Nacht auf Mittwoch

Passers-by and residents are said to have fled in panic. The exact background was not known during the night. "There is currently an operation in Klausgasse in the 16th district. The area is cordoned off. Please avoid this area and follow the instructions of the intervening forces," the police said on X.

This did not change for the time being, an hour and a half later the police wrote: "At the moment the defusing service is in the apartment and is searching it. The area remains closed."