Video shows devastation

Night-time explosion: Vienna bank branch destroyed

There was a powerful explosion in the early hours of the morning - the search for the perpetrators is ongoing.

(Bild: krone.tv/zVg)

A police operation was carried out in the Alterlaa residential park in Vienna-Liesing on Tuesday morning. An ATM was apparently blown up. The damage is likely to have been enormous (see video above). So far, there is no trace of the five unknown perpetrators.

Early Tuesday morning, numerous residents in Alterlaa were woken from their sleep by a violent explosion. Unknown perpetrators apparently attempted to blow up the ATM in a branch of Bank Austria.

Five getaway vehicles seized
Both police spokeswoman Anna Gutt and Bank Austria media spokesman Matthias Rafl confirmed the crime to krone.at on Tuesday morning. After the crime, the five perpetrators fled on scooters. These were found in a nearby park and recovered.

Amount of damage unclear
The exact amount of damage has not yet been determined, but is likely to be considerable (see video above). The force of the explosion caused serious damage to nearby stores, several windows were completely destroyed.

We can confirm the police operation. However, the amount of damage has not yet been determined following the incident.

Matthias Raftl, Mediensprecher Bank Austria

In addition to the Liesing municipal police command and the riot unit, explosives experts and the defusing service of the Directorate for Special Units were also involved in the operation. The Vienna State Office of Criminal Investigation is still investigating the case.

Relevant information on the incident will be accepted (also anonymously) at any police station and at the Vienna State Office of Criminal Investigation on 01-31310-33800.