Suspect is 14

Proceedings against pupil dropped after threat

The Linz public prosecutor's office was responsible for the case

(Bild: Pressefoto Scharinger/Daniel Scharinger)

A posted toilet door in the Haid secondary school not only caused discussion at the beginning of February, but also brought to light the worrying background - because the door is said to have been removed due to death threats made by a 14-year-old against a fellow pupil. The police investigated.

In response to an inquiry by the "Krone" newspaper, the Linz public prosecutor's office has now announced that the case against the young boy has been dropped. Neither interviews nor inspection of chat histories had revealed any evidence of specific threats. The accused also had a clean criminal record.

Class teacher was worried
A concerned class teacher had contacted the police because he had heard about or been told about worrying incidents in the class. The 14-year-old is said to have threatened to kill someone on social media and claimed that he was going to buy a gun. A teacher has also been named as a victim in the meantime. The teenager is said to have told his mother that he wanted to harm the teacher.

"The teachers have been sensitized"
After the incidents became known, the Upper Austrian Education Directorate stated: "Teachers have been made aware of how to deal with the child and the school psychology department is involved in the process".