Child abduction: shocking warnings and real dangers in Austria!
March 2, 2025 marks the 28th anniversary of Natascha Kampusch's kidnapping. Experts warn of false reports and real dangers for children.
Child abduction: shocking warnings and real dangers in Austria!
The case of Natascha Kampusch, who was kidnapped 28 years ago as a ten-year-old schoolgirl, remains a drastic event in Austria. Despite this historic tragedy, police say there have been no similar kidnappings in the country since the incident. Nevertheless, warnings about possible kidnappings are increasing on the Internet, often accompanied by reports of a white van. Ute Schume from the LKA Styria's crime prevention department emphasizes that the relevant information is usually vague and that there is no real evidence of actual kidnappings ORF.at reported. The police are also becoming more active and training children in how to deal with such situations, even though the actual danger is considered extremely low. The spread of false news on social media is a growing problem affecting both adults and young people, who often respond without verification.
Parents and Electronic Dangers
In their daily work on prevention, the police find that many parents focus heavily on external threats, such as pedophilia, while the threats on the Internet are often negated. Ute Schume points out that children there are exposed to much greater risks, such as the exchange of pornographic content. According to experts, it is crucial that parents talk to their children about such topics in quiet moments to reduce anxiety and develop healthy awareness.
A current case of custody disputes has caused a stir in Germany. Last week, a man drove over a barrier at Hamburg airport and took his four-year-old daughter hostage in order to travel to Turkey with her. This came during a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife. After 18 hours, the man was arrested and the child was returned to the care of the mother, it was reported sueddeutsche.de. Such escalations in binational families seem to be occurring more and more frequently, with mothers often putting children in dangerous situations, according to experts.