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Man arrested on suspicion of killing parents with baseball bat

A 48-year-old man has been arrested after an elderly couple were found bludgeoned to death in their home in Lower Austria on Tuesday morning.

Published: 3 January 2017 11:00 CET
Man arrested on suspicion of killing parents with baseball bat
Photo: Paul Gillingwater

According to local media reports the suspect is the dead couple's son. 

Police found a baseball bat in the house in Perchtoldsdorf, which is believed to be the murder weapon.

Police spokesman Johann Baumschlager said that the married couple – reported to be 75 and 85 years old – died after being violently beaten. He confirmed that a suspect, the son of the couple, had been arrested and that it was he who had called the emergency services to say that his parents were dead, and that he had killed them. When the police arrived he came out of the house and made no attempt to resist arrest. 

Baumschlager told the Krone newspaper that the suspect had cared for his bedridden parents for some time, and had no previous criminal convictions. 

The 48-year-old is currently being questioned by police, as are his two sisters. 

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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