Attack with a knife

Gang of youths molests girl: Witnesses intervene

Four people were injured by pepper spray and kicks during the incident (symbolic image).

(Bild: EVA MANHART / APA / picturedesk.com)

On Tuesday afternoon, there was a violent confrontation in Vienna-Favoriten in which several passers-by were apparently attacked with both a knife and a pepper spray. Previously, a gang of youths had allegedly harassed a girl - witnesses intervened to help her.

During a special operation by the task force to combat youth crime, officers of the Vienna police arrested a 17-year-old boy in Favoriten after a suspected knife attack.

Four people injured by gang of youths
The incident took place at the notorious Reumannplatz, where there was apparently an altercation between youths and passers-by. Witnesses reported that the youths had allegedly harassed a girl. 

Unfortunately, the civil courage shown by the passers-by had serious consequences. When they bravely intervened to protect the harassed girl, they were met with a brutal backlash. The group of youths allegedly attacked the helpful citizens with a dangerous arsenal: They allegedly used pepper spray, attacked a passer-by with a knife and attacked them with targeted kicks. Four people suffered injuries from pepper spray and kicks. 

The weapons ban has definitely helped to improve the situation. However, the increased police presence is just as important.

Sicherheitssprecher Christian Hursky

Only one perpetrator caught so far
The police arrested the 17-year-old main suspect immediately after the crime. According to witnesses, he was responsible for the knife attack on the passer-by. He is currently in police custody. The search for other suspects has so far been unsuccessful, as has the search for the alleged murder weapon. The investigation is still ongoing.

Although the situation has improved since the ban on weapons was imposed at Reumannplatz, there is obviously still a need for action.

(Bild: APA/FLORIAN WIESER)

Weapons ban since April
Following a series of knife attacks, a weapons ban has been in place for the entire Reumannplatz area since the beginning of April. At the time, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) described the measure as a "first step". The weapons ban zone was part of a corresponding "package of measures".

According to Vienna's security spokesman Christian Hursky, the weapons ban had helped to improve the situation - the increased police presence at Reumannplatz was just as important. However, the problem lies in the insufficient number of police officers - such as in Vienna-Favoriten, where the number of officers was recently even reduced.

A positive example of a weapons ban is "Praterstern, where a weapons ban has been in place for six years and the situation has calmed down considerably". It is to be hoped that the incident with the harassed girl will remain an isolated case and that officers will intervene in good time in future so that passers-by do not have to intervene themselves to help people in distress.