Perpetrators 16 and 17 years old

Firecracker attack on homeless person (54) in Spielberg

The attack happened under a bridge in Spielberg (symbolic image)

(Bild: Birbaumer Johanna)

Firecracker attack on a homeless person's tent on Sunday evening in Spielberg (Styria): The cowardly perpetrators: three youths from the region. Fortunately, the 54-year-old woman who lives there was unharmed. Her tent was damaged.

The dastardly attack happened under a bridge at around 9 pm. The three youths are said to have thrown several lit firecrackers towards the homeless woman's tent. The 54-year-old woman, who was in the tent at the time, noticed the dangerous activity and called the police.

Victim was able to give a good description of the getaway car
The perpetrators fled in the car. However, the Styrian woman was able to give a good description of the getaway car and the suspects, says Sabri Yorgun, spokesman for the Styrian police. The trio was caught shortly after the crime, which could have been fatal, by officers from the Knittelfeld police station.

The youths confessed to the crime. However, they told the police that they had not known that the woman was in the tent.

Polizei-Sprecher Sabri Yorgun

Bild: Christian Jauschowetz

In the presence of their parents, the two 17-year-olds and the 16-year-old succinctly stated that they had not known that the homeless woman was in the tent - but this does not make the crime any less reprehensible. All three were charged with damage to property and attempted assault. 

Tent also burned in Leoben
Just a few weeks ago, there was an incident in Leoben involving a homeless man whose tent was ablaze. Here, too, it was suspected that young people had used firecrackers to carry out an attack. However, the investigation revealed that it was more likely that a candle belonging to the homeless man had started the fire.