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Graffiti vandal ‘Puber’ to appear in court

Vienna’s most notorious graffiti sprayer, who calls himself Puber (German for 'adolescent’), is due to appear in court, charged with causing damage amounting to €50,000.

Published: 18 July 2014 14:37 CEST

Graffiti vandal 'Puber' to appear in court

Puber's signature in Vienna. Photo: APA/Fohringer

The Swiss man, who is 30-years-old, faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Police arrested him in early March in a flat in Vienna’s Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus district. An anonymous tip-off led police to the commune where he was living. Three other graffiti sprayers were also arrested.

Since then Puber has been in custody, despite the efforts of a Facebook group who campaigned for his release.

Vienna city council and Wiener Linien (Vienna public transport) have been asked to give witness statements, along with 30 private individuals and companies.

Puber, who left his mark mostly around the 7th district, was extremely unpopular in Vienna – even with other graffiti artists as he would spray over their work.

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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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