Panic attack in the elevator: chaos and violence during police operations!

Panic attack in the elevator: chaos and violence during police operations!

A dramatic incident occurred in Vienna when Christoph M. (28, name changed) and his mother got stuck in an elevator on April 26, 2023. The 28-year-old, who has suffered from an extreme fear of confined spaces since childhood, suffered a violent panic attack during the incident, prompting an alarm from police. A concerned neighbor who heard screams from the staircase alerted the police, which led to a large-scale operation involving 30 officers and a service dog, as reported on Today.at.

Chaotic scenes after the elevator emergency

The rescue of the mother-son team took 20 minutes. After they were rescued, Christoph stormed outside and panicked, which led to a misunderstanding with the police officers who rushed to the scene. Witnesses reported a chaotic operation, with one officer stating: "We didn't know he was having a panic attack." Amid the commotion, blows were exchanged and a police officer was mistakenly sprayed with pepper spray. Christoph also reportedly hit a service dog, which also earned him animal cruelty charges, while his mother also reacted aggressively towards the police, the Standard confirmed.

The trial, whose second day of proceedings took place recently, revealed the contradictions and ambiguities surrounding the events. Questions about the recognizability of the police ID card and the exact procedures of the operation remained unanswered. The main charges against Christoph and his mother include resistance to state authority and serious bodily harm, with a total of several injuries to the police and those involved. The trial continues, but confusion about what is happening appears to remain high.