One year after the attacks

Violence outside the stadium: Graz hooligans tracked down

Police units in front of the Liebenau stadium (here at the Graz derby in October)

(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

More than a year after scenes of violence against the police on the sidelines of a Sturm Graz Europa League match, three suspects have now been identified. For the police, this shows how consistently they are taking action against acts of violence at soccer matches.

The incidents took place on National Day 2023 on the stadium forecourt in Liebenau. Sturm faced Atalanta Bergamo at home, and the team from Graz ultimately fought out a 2:2 draw against the Italians. The points win was overshadowed by riots and acts of violence against several police officers outside the stadium.

Police officer seriously injured in the head
This was triggered by a police cordon to separate the fan groups, which caused some supporters to become aggressive. They used projectiles and banned pyrotechnics and resisted the police. One officer was hit on the head by an unknown object and seriously injured despite wearing a protective helmet.

Trio from Graz and the surrounding area
Now, a good year later, three suspects have been caught by the police after "extensive and tireless investigations", as stated in a press release. The men are between 28 and 38 years old and live in the districts of Graz and Graz-Umgebung.

They have already been questioned about the incidents and have partially confessed to charges of resisting public authority and grievous bodily harm. The trio must now face criminal proceedings and are also facing an official stadium ban.