Brutal attack at the main train station: nine years in prison for Hungary!

Brutal attack at the main train station: nine years in prison for Hungary!

At the Vienna regional court, a 55-year-old Hungarian was sentenced to nine years in prison for intentionally causing serious bodily harm resulting in death. The case came to a conclusion on October 7, 2025 after the defendant was convicted for his brutal act on April 7, 2025. He hit a 37-year-old man in the face with his fist eleven times in the waiting area of ​​Vienna Central Station, which had fatal consequences. Prosecutor Kerstin Wagner-Haase was shocked by the brutality of the attack and the passive reactions of bystanders who did not intervene, even though the victim might have survived with quick medical attention.

The victim, who had previously been heavily intoxicated and had met the defendant during a train ride from Budapest to Vienna, later died as a result of a traumatic brain injury and internal bleeding. A surveillance camera that recorded the crime provided crucial evidence for the defendant's arrest. After the attack, the 37-year-old, despite his serious injuries, took a train to the airport, where he was later found motionless.

The role of civil courage

The reaction of passers-by raises fundamental questions about moral courage. Although it can often be risky to provide assistance in situations like this, there are important rules that can help without putting yourself in danger. The initiative of the Federal Police offers six essential rules for acting correctly in critical situations:

• Helfen ohne Gefahr – aufmerksam sein, nicht wegschauen, andere ansprechen oder laut Hilfe organisieren.
• Andere aktiv zur Mithilfe auffordern – direkte Ansprache von Passanten oder Zugpersonal.
• Täter-Merkmale genau beobachten – Aussehen, Kleidung, Fluchtrichtung merken.
• Hilfe unter Notruf 110 organisieren – wichtige Informationen kurz und bündig übermitteln.
• Sich um Opfer kümmern – Erste Hilfe leisten und Unterstützung suchen.
• Als Zeuge zur Verfügung stehen – eigene Aussage hilft bei der Aufklärung der Tat.

Promoting moral courage is a central aspect of police work. The topic is also relevant in the context of increasing street crime. According to a report by the police Police registered 1,099,649 cases of street crime nationwide in 2024, which represents a decrease compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the number of dangerous and serious physical injuries on public streets, paths and squares increased. This underlines the need to strengthen moral courage, not only in the event of violence, but also in many other areas of life.

The “tu-was” campaign, which is supported by the police, aims to promote moral courage and show people how they can help in emergency situations. Informative materials and videos are below civil-helden.de available to further raise awareness of this important issue.