Unrest in Altenfelden: The suspected gunman's escape continues

Unrest in Altenfelden: The suspected gunman's escape continues

On Saturday morning, Roland Drexler, the suspected gunman from Altenfelden, remained missing. More than 20 hours have now passed since a walker discovered his car in a forest area in the Mühlviertel. Despite intensive police efforts, there are currently no signs of his whereabouts.

The temperatures were bitterly cold overnight, at just four degrees. Nevertheless, the investigators assume that Drexler may still be in the area around Arnreit and Altenfelden. A trailer was searched that night, as were other empty buildings that could serve as possible hiding places.

Intensive search operation

The police used mantrailer dogs that night, but they were unable to pick up any scent. A search for Drexler was also carried out from the air using thermal imaging cameras and special drones. A helicopter was also used to monitor the area around Altenfelden. A total of 250 emergency services were mobilized, but even with these measures there was no sighting of the person being sought. Movements in the forests should have been registered by the police.

Breathtaking unrest in the region

The ongoing unrest in the region is noticeable. Many residents suspect that Drexler fled anyway - especially towards the Czech Republic, where there are large forest areas directly behind the border. The discovery of his vehicle, which was apparently parked so close to the crime scene that it was probably only brought there at the beginning of the week, caused additional displeasure. This is a concern for residents, especially since 50 people in conflict with Drexler are currently under police protection.

Drexler's car was found on Friday morning in Arnreit, in the Rohrbach district - directly near the scene where two 64-year-old men were shot on Monday. While police do not yet know whether Drexler had his weapons in the vehicle, it is believed that he took at least two long guns and a handgun with him during his escape for his rampage. According to investigations, these weapons are missing from his inventory.

The situation is tense for the population in Altenfelden. The mayor and another person were shot on Monday, which further strained the mood in the town. Residents and reporters report on the growing nervousness in the community and the impact on the everyday lives of local people. The incident has sparked widespread fear and residents are now hoping for a quick conclusion to the search effort.

The investigation is ongoing and all information is being carefully evaluated to find Drexler as quickly as possible. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop and what new findings will come to light in the coming days. Meanwhile, the police are working intensively to find a solution to this stressful situation and to ensure the safety of the population. For detailed information on these developments, see the current reporting on ooe.orf.at.