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CRIME

Three refugees arrested on drugs charges

A gang of three Afghani drug dealers has been busted in Vienna.

Published: 21 October 2016 10:54 CEST
Three refugees arrested on drugs charges
Cannabis plants. Photo: J. Patrick Bedell/Wikimedia

The suspects, all refugees who fled Afghanistan, were caught with €50,000 which they had made selling drugs. 

They had been doing a roaring trade in cannabis.  Police said that so far this year they sold around 50kg of the drug to customers across Austria.

According to a report in the Kronen Zeitung the authorities in Vienna began investigating the trio after one of their business partners was arrested by police in Graz. He’s now serving time in prison but when he was being questioned he told officers that his suppliers were three Afghans who were based in Vienna.

Police in the capital planned raids on Tuesday morning at two addresses in the districts of Favoriten and Brigittenau, with officers from a special SWAT unit involved. The three Afghans, all aged 21, were in the apartments and were arrested.

Two of the men were receiving basic social security payments to cover their living expenses, and the third man is currently applying for asylum seeker status – which he is unlikely to be granted given his arrest on drugs charges.

 

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.

Published: 29 April 2024 17:32 CEST
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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