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Bungling Bosnian bank bandits bagged

Five Bosnian suspects are now in custody after a failed attempt to rob a bank on Tuesday in Allhaming, near Linz.

Bungling Bosnian bank bandits bagged
Photo: laumat.at / Matthias Lauber

Police were alerted when a group of armed masked men were seen trying to break in to a bank earlier this week.  The 51-year-old bank employee who was present in the branch at the time, spotted the weapon and immediately took cover, after alerting police.

The men failed to gain entry into the bank, as the main door was locked due to the branch not yet being open, as it was 8:38 a.m.

A comprehensive police operation was launched, with check-points on the roads and a helicopter search team.

The would-be robbers were seen on surveillance cameras checking out the bank's security (including the camera systems), and one was seen kicking at the door and pointing a weapon at the employee.

After failing to break through the main door, the men fled on foot.  A witness described seeing a VW Golf car with Bosnian number plates containing five men.

A police check-point spotted a car matching the suspect vehicle attempting to enter a highway on-ramp at nearby Sattledt.  After a high-speed chase, the car was intercepted near a small forest, and two of the suspects were immediately arrested.  The remaining three were found a short time later, hiding in a cemetery.

According to unconfirmed police reports, the suspects have confessed to planning the robbery a few days ago, and four of the suspects (aged 22-33) traveled from Bosnia specifically for this purpose, joining an accomplice (the 22-year-old getaway car driver) who has already been residing in Austria since several months.

The suspects left three Bosnian passports inside the getaway car in their hurry to escape.

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CRIME

UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible ‘threat’ to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Viennese police have confirmed they are investigating a possible - and unspecified - threat to the popular shopping centre in the city's 22nd district.

UPDATED: Vienna police investigating possible 'threat' to Donau Zentrum shopping centre

The Vienna police confirmed they are investigating a non-specified threat to the Donau Zentrum shopping centre, located in the Austrian capital’s 22nd district, a spokesperson told The Local. 

On Monday, pictures of an alleged internal document sent by the shopping centre to tenants circulated on social media and messaging apps. The document stated there was a “threat against the Westfield Donau Zentrum for April 30, 2024”. It stated that the authorities had been working to identify suspects since yesterday.

“The source of the threat is a photo circulating online”, the statement said without giving further details. “If we receive additional information or specifications, we will immediately inform you”, it added.

“There is currently no reason for you as an employee to worry as we are strictly following police guidelines”, the document said. It was signed by a manager of the shopping centre. The Local reached out to Donau Zentrum media representatives, who confirmed a threat against the centre.

“The Center Management of Westfield Donau Zentrum can confirm a threat against the center and is in ongoing communication with the relevant authorities. We are taking the situation seriously. The safety of everyone in the center is our top priority. After coordination with the authorities, the center will be open as usual today”, they said.

The Vienna police confirmed the veracity of the statement and added, “We are aware of the matter and are investigating,” they replied after an inquiry on their official social media channels. The Local reached out to the press office for further clarification but has not yet received a response.

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