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Murder in Vienna city center: 70-year-old man killed

There is a constant coming and going in the house. Neighbors had not noticed any violent confrontation.

(Bild: Zwefo/Krone KREATIV)

There had been radio silence from a 70-year-old Viennese man for days - his friends were worried. When the police opened the door, they found the man dead - presumably the victim of a brutal assault. The investigators came across a sinister detail: the apartments in the house are often rented out via Airbnb and repeatedly attract strangers. 

Friends were worried because they hadn't heard from a 70-year-old Viennese man for days. On Thursday, they wanted to check for themselves and went to his apartment in the sleepy little street on Rabensteig.

Friends alerted the police
But the ringing and knocking at Top 26 on the 4th floor of the well-kept apartment building went unanswered. The police were finally called. The door had to be forced open - and the worst fears came true!

The anonymity of the big city: a tragedy took place behind this apartment door in the apartment building on Rabensteig - and nobody noticed.

(Bild: Zwefo)

Pensioner probably beaten to death
The 70-year-old lay lifeless in the apartment. He had succumbed to his severe head injuries, presumably beaten to death. Investigations are ongoing in all directions. An autopsy has been ordered. As there were no signs of forced entry on the front door, the detectives assume that the victim let his future murderer into his home himself. The neighbors are shocked. However, the residents at the posh city address hardly know each other.

Due to the nature of the injuries and the evidence, it can be assumed that the murderer was not to blame.

Anna Gutt, Polizeisprecherin

Apartment rentals as a security risk
"There is a constant coming and going here. Many apartments are sublet or offered as vacation accommodation via Airbnb. I constantly see people coming in and out with suitcases and then ask what they are doing here," explains a man who has lived in the building for some time.

He had not noticed any violent confrontation. The homicide investigators are now relying on evidence analysis from the crime scene and city cameras.