Environmental offenders in Vienna: Entrepreneur dumps 150 liters of diesel in Liesingbach!

Environmental offenders in Vienna: Entrepreneur dumps 150 liters of diesel in Liesingbach!

On April 6, 2025, an environmental incident occurred in Vienna-Liesing when an entrepreneur dumped around 150 liters of diesel oil into a canal. This led to the contamination of the Liesingbach, which required immediate action by the Vienna Water Authority. The pollution was discovered on Saturday morning, April 5th, around 1:00 p.m., and the water police were called to assist. The emergency services worked intensively to prevent the spread of the pollutants and to determine the source of the pollution.

The cooperation between the water authorities, the water police and the foreman from Kanal Wien made it possible to trace the oil trail. The suspected perpetrator, a 56-year-old Austrian entrepreneur, initially stated that a barrel had fallen over. However, he later confessed to intentionally dumping the diesel oil into the canal. The man was subjected to appropriate investigations and reported, while the Vienna State Criminal Police Office is continuing its environmental investigations.

Pollution control measures

The early response of the city's emergency services was crucial. They have been busy containing environmental pollution since the early hours of the morning. The contamination of the Liesingbach represents a serious threat to water quality, which is particularly important in the context of increasing environmental crime. According to an analysis by WWF, the efficiency of law enforcement in the area of ​​environmental crime is constantly improving, meaning that law enforcement authorities can increasingly rely on information from civil society organizations to detect and prosecute environmental crimes.

This not only has a positive impact on water protection, but also supports closer cooperation between national and international authorities. Projects funded by organizations such as WWF and INTERPOL aim to more effectively combat cross-border crimes that endanger the environment, climate and biodiversity.

Outlook on the investigation

The investigation into the current case is still in its early stages. Another focus is on identifying the exact circumstances of the illegal disposal and possible other perpetrators. Environmental crime often has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond local waterways, and it is essential to hold various actors accountable to protect ecosystems.

The incidents in Vienna-Liesing are an impressive example of how important the vigilance of the authorities and civil society is in the fight against environmental crimes. Only through joint action can trust in the protection of our waters and the environment be restored in the long term.

For more information on the background to environmental crime, visit the pages Vienna.at, Police.gv.at and WWF.de.