13-year-old injured in brutal attack – perpetrator caught!

13-year-old injured in brutal attack – perpetrator caught!

A violent attack on a 13-year-old teenager occurred on May 22, 2025 on Favoritenstrasse. At around 5:45 p.m., a 25-year-old man attacked the boy and stole his cell phone and cash. The teenager suffered bruises and abrasions, which were immediately treated by the Vienna paramedics before he was transported to the hospital. The victim said he knew the attacker superficially, indicating a possible history between the two. However, detailed interviews are still pending.

A passer-by who saw the attack immediately informed the police and followed the suspected perpetrator. The officers were ultimately able to provide this in Senefeldergasse. When the man, a Syrian, was searched, a small amount of drugs was found. The 25-year-old is now in police custody while the State Criminal Police Office has taken over further investigations. Violent crime, which rose by 1.5% in Germany last year, is at its highest level since 2007, which shows worrying trends.

Drug trafficking and drug-related crime

Coincidentally, shortly after the attack, a large-scale operation against drug crime took place in Germany, during which the Frankfurt Customs Investigation Office, in collaboration with the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), was able to seize over 200 kilograms of amphetamine as well as significant quantities of other drugs. These searches took place in four camouflaged bunkers in Frankfurt and the surrounding districts. More than 350 kilograms of marijuana and cash amounting to 50,000 euros were also seized. The arrested suspected dealers, whose ages are between 22 and 29 years old, are now in custody and are facing charges of gang-related drug trafficking.

The nationwide police crime statistics (PKS) 2024 show that drug-related crime has fallen overall by 34.2%, which is primarily due to the partial legalization of cannabis. Despite this, the numbers for certain drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine increased. Violent crime, however, increased, which reflects the increase in the number of suspected children and young people. In 2024, 13,755 children and 31,383 young people were registered as suspects, a worrying trend that could be linked to attacks like the one on the 13-year-old.

The updated figures suggest that the problem of violent crime in Germany is often compounded by complex social and economic circumstances. While the clearance rate remains constant at around 58%, it is clear that great attention should be paid to prevention and combating the causes of crime.

In the current situation, it remains to be seen what further consequences will be drawn from the attack and the drug discoveries. The investigation is in full swing and it is expected that new findings will emerge that may provide deeper insights into the structures of the perpetrators and their motives.