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‘Warning signs’ before teen murder

More details are starting to emerge about a 16-year-old boy who was arrested after a rape and murder in a middle-class area of Graz. Parents who sent their children to a Kindergarten which his mother ran say that official complaints were made about his behaviour when he was younger.

'Warning signs' before teen murder
The door to the basement where the murder happened. Photo: APA

Sebastian S allegedly shot and killed his friend Marcel S (also 16) because Marcel forced him, at gunpoint, to rape a 14-year-old girl.

Sebastian’s 86-year-old grandfather, Walter, has been arrested for allegedly helping him bury the body in Hungary. 

On June 22nd Sebastian was entertaining friends in the basement of a building where his grandfather lives, in the upmarket area of Geidorf.

A 16-year-old acquaintance of his from Villach (Carinthia) allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl, and then tried to force his friend to do the same.  

In revenge, or to free the girl, Sebastian went upstairs to his grandfather’s apartment, took a small rifle from his gun cabinet, and shot Marcel. He then confessed what had happened to his grandfather, who drove him to the Hungarian border to dispose of the body.

The traumatised girl is currently in psychiatric care and is not in a fit state to be questioned by police.

The prosecutor’s office has not confirmed whether the teenagers had been taking drugs on the night in question.

"Horror" Kindergarten

Sebastian’s mother, who was away on a spa holiday in Bad Vöslau, used to run a crèche and private Kindergarten in the building where the murder happened.

Several people have now come forward to say that “monstrous things” happened in the Kindergarten.

One mother (who didn’t want to be named) told the Der Standard paper that “there was a dead guinea pig in the nursery, that had been tortured to death with pencils. The children were pelted with screws and stones when they were in the garden.” Parents believed that Sebastian was to blame.

"He also attended the Kindergarten and would often pop in when he was a teenager… like his grandfather, he always had access," another parent said. They described him as being "very maladjusted", but said that his mother and grandfather had always made excuses for him.

When a rumour circulated that he was having archery lessons "many parents took their children out of the nursery."

One father, who also wished to remain anonymous, said that he is “furious” that the authorities never responded to parents’ complaints about the Kindergarten. "They even threatened us about making false claims,” he said.

He added that “there was strong evidence that something was wrong in this house. We realised that the Kindergarten teachers would often walk for hours in the rain with the children because they were afraid of the nursery owner and the grandfather, too. There should have been some psychological help for this family."

The Kindergarten was closed in 2009, but later reopened and is run by a private company. The manager told Der Standard that "any incidents immediately stopped when we took over – but it’s a horrible feeling when you consider what happened here in the basement, but thank God, the kids know nothing about it…"

Meanwhile the Kronen Zeitung paper reports that Marcel, the murder victim, was sentenced to 11 months in prison last year after he stormed a school music event in Villach armed with knives.

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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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