ATM blasted in Arnoldstein: perpetrators on the run!

ATM blasted in Arnoldstein: perpetrators on the run!

In a precarious location, an ATM in Arnoldstein occurred on the night of April 2, 2025. According to a report by Klick Carinthia, the alarm was triggered at 3:23 a.m. when the police arrived at the crime scene and found devastation. The outer bankomat of the affected bank and parts of the facade were significantly damaged. An immediate alarm search was initiated in which numerous police forces were involved, including units from the Villach district, the city police Villach, border police officers, police dog leader, a standby unit and the Libelle police helicopter.

The perpetrators have so far been fleeting, while the State Criminal Police Office Carinthia has taken over the investigation. At the scene of the crime, traces were secured and the defusing service of the management for special units was consulted. The exact amount of damage is still unclear and the investigation is underway.

ATM explosions in Austria

This incident is not isolated, because since the beginning of 2025 14 AutorMats have been recorded in Austria. According to a report by Vienna.at, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) founded the "SOKO ATM" in order to counteract this problem. The current groups of perpetrators act more inconspicuously and faster and mainly seem to come from the Netherlands.

BK manager Dieter CSefan emphasizes the need to work with the banks in order to combat this phenomenon. It has also been found that the perpetrators have achieved success in the Netherlands and are now increasingly moving to German -speaking countries. It is striking that the blasting not only pose a problem in the border of border, but also in urban areas, which makes prevention difficult.

the perpetrators and their approach

Although Media often names the Moroccan mafia, also known as "Mocro-Mafia", as responsible for these offenses, the migration background is not decisive. This group is estimated at around 1,000 members who are organized in small groups of 20 to 100 people. Perpetrators are trained in the Netherlands and travel for their actions all over Europe.

Since 2018, where 59 attacks there was the previous highlight of ATM, the tactics of the perpetrators have developed. They use pyrotechnics and rely on a "hit and run" tactic while using high-motorized vehicles with speeds over 200 km/h. They are often melted and wear overalls to avoid DNA traces with adhesive tapes, which also makes the investigation more difficult.

The "SOKO ATM" focuses on creating a comprehensive picture of the situation in Austria and exchanging international findings. The cooperation between the law enforcement agencies is crucial, as the arrest of a Dutch citizen in the Czech Republic impressively shows in July 2024.