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CRIME

Innsbruck teen dies after fatal drug overdose

A 15-year-old girl has died in Innsbruck, a week after she was found slumped in a stairwell after a suspected cocaine overdose.

Innsbruck teen dies after fatal drug overdose
A view of Innsbruck. Photo: Dnalor01/Wikimedia

Police are questioning two Syrian men who are suspected of having given her the drugs, and then failing to take her to hospital when she lost consciousness. 

The girl was discovered in a stairwell on September 27th. Medics were able to resuscitate her but she died in hospital on Sunday of what toxicology reports indicate was a drug overdose.

Shortly after she was found police brought a Syrian man in for questioning in relation to the case. The 22-year-old told officers that he and a friend had watched through a window and seen two Moroccan men moving the girl to the stairwell.

But in subsequent interrogations, police found the Syrian’s story to be unreliable and a second Syrian man was questioned. They eventually admitted that the girl had taken drugs and alcohol in their apartment. They had moved her outside when she lost consciousness as they were afraid they would get in trouble with the police.

Both the men have been granted asylum, and according to a report in the Krone newspaper are blaming one another for the girl’s death.

According to the spokesman for the Innsbruck prosecutor, Hansjörg Mayr, the men are suspected of giving narcotic drugs to a minor and of failure to assist a wounded person. 

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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