Teen gang attacks man with knife in Vienna – violent situation escalates!

Teen gang attacks man with knife in Vienna – violent situation escalates!

A 43-year-old was the victim of a knife attack by a group of young people in Vienna-Donaustadt on Tuesday afternoon. According to oe24, there had previously been an argument in the subway when the man asked the young people aged 13 to 18 to turn down their loudspeaker. The group of six then harassed him, insulted him and ultimately physically attacked him. A teenager stabbed him in the lower back with a knife. The 43-year-old received immediate medical attention and was then taken to hospital. Fortunately, there was no danger to his life.

After the crime, the attackers fled towards Seepark. With the help of an immediate search, all six suspects were stopped near Lake Aspern. A folding knife was found in a cigarette pack near the crime scene and seized. The young people gave contradictory statements about the events and blamed the 13-year-old for the stabbing. The older members of the group were already known to police for other crimes, including assault and property crimes. All of the accused were released, while the 13-year-old was handed over to a facility.

Increase in juvenile crime

This incident highlights the worrying development of youth crime in Vienna. In 2022, almost 21,000 crimes were committed by juveniles, indicating an alarming increase. In particular, offenses such as theft and bodily harm have increased significantly, as heute reports. The increases are certainly worrying, with assaults up 34.8% and assaults up 46.4% compared to 2021.

The police are also observing the increasing willingness to use violence among young people, who often form organized gangs. One such gang, known as the “Molotov Gang,” has not only committed numerous crimes but also used brutal methods, including maintaining a secret torture list. Experts such as Gerhard Winkler, head of the LPD Vienna's investigation service, speak of an "increased willingness to use violence", while Walter Dillinger, police lawyer, confirms the increase in the intensity of violence in recent years.

Prevention approaches and challenges

In order to counteract this worrying development, the Federal Ministry of Youth Affairs has developed numerous action strategies to prevent child and youth crime. This includes stimulating specialist discussions and thematic focuses, as in the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth explained. The focus is particularly on cooperation between the police, social work, schools and the judiciary in order to effectively implement preventative measures.

However, the challenge is great because the majority of suspected young people only come into conflict with the law once, while 5-10% are serious offenders. These intensive offenders are often male and come from complex social problems. In order to improve the situation sustainably, increased educational work and the involvement of parents and teachers are required.