Young offenders in Vienna linked to attack - Survivor's Words: "Deadly Risk"
In the Heart of Vienna: A Community on Edge
Meet 63-year-old Franz T., a Burgenland resident who feels uneasy whenever he visits the bustling city of Vienna. Recently, he was confronted by a pair of teenagers trying to rob him on the street, an occurrence that's become all too common in the city.
Just days after Franz T.'s harrowing encounter, a 14-year-old Serbian boy, known as Austria's worst teenage offender, was apprehended. This troubled youth, residing in a crisis youth home, has reportedly committed over 1,200 offenses since his childhood. He's currently facing charges, along with a 16-year-old companion, for crimes such as criminal association, burglary, unauthorized vehicle use, forgery, and causing multiple accidents with a stolen Dodge RAM.
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Franz T.'s experience unfolded in Simmering around 9:20 AM, as he walked his mixed breed dog, Emily, near the Braunhuber park. Two young men approached him, one in a white T-shirt, the other in a black hoodie. They threatened to rob him and demanded all his possessions. Despite trying to flag down a nearby car, no help was offered. In desperation, Franz T. shouted for help, drawing the attention of the teenage duo who fled.
Threats Amplify When Victim Calls Police
The former subway driver, feeling frightened and vulnerable, called the authorities, who swiftly arrived but released the suspects for lack of evidence. The boys, however, returned to threaten him, taunting him for alerting the police. The police arrived again just in time to save Franz T., and the teenagers slipped away into a nearby apartment building's courtyard.
While the police took Franz T.'s ID for documentation, he remains uninterviewed and unsure of any further action. As he returns to the peace of Burgenland, he finds little respite as crime-ridden Vienna seems to have reached even its rural outskirts.
In a disturbing turn, four teenagers - Afghans and Chechens, reportedly returning from a school trip or skipping school in the Burgenland region - allegedly threatened and robbed four local HAK schoolgirls at the Bad Neusiedl train station. The loot amounted to a paltry 4 euros and the girls' belts. The school's director, alerted by the victims, notified the police who arrested the young men.
Not unlike Franz T., many are concerned about the rising trend of delinquency among young people. The discussion is underway to lower the age of criminal responsibility and establish boot camps or alternative prison-like facilities for particularly delinquent children and repeat offenders.
Around Austria, there's been a noticeable increase in suspects under 18 involved in criminal activities. The number of suspects aged 10 to 14 has particularly escalated, causing concern among law enforcement officials and community members alike. Experts are exploring a range of strategies to combat this surge in youth crime, including education reforms, family reunification suspensions, and enhanced law enforcement measures like video surveillance and zero-tolerance zones.
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