Armed robbery at a firecracker shop in Innsbruck – perpetrator at large

According to the investigators' initial findings, no one was injured in the robbery. The owner and another employee sustained no visible injuries, but suffered shock and received medical treatment, according to police. The exact amount of property damage and the scope of the stolen pyrotechnics are the subject of the ongoing investigation.

The Tyrolean police immediately launched a search after the crime, involving special units as well. Several patrol cars were deployed around the crime scene in the morning. In addition, neighboring districts and the arterial roads toward the Zirler Berg were checked, as a getaway vehicle is suspected. A police spokesperson stated that there are no indications of a second perpetrator so far.

Manhunt and investigations

The Innsbruck public prosecutor's office has since taken over the direction of the investigations. As the Tyrolean police announced, the suspicion relates to armed robbery against the fugitive perpetrator. The investigators are also examining whether there is a connection to similar incidents along the Bavarian-Tyrolean border. The area around Mittenwald and Scharnitz on the German side had recently been the subject of multiple reports about cross-border crime.

The Austrian news agency APA also reported on the robbery on Saturday, quoting the Tyrolean police. According to the report, the perpetrator entered the shop shortly after midnight, when only a few customers were present in the store. The evaluation of the surveillance cameras is still ongoing, but could provide initial information about the perpetrator's size, clothing, and direction of flight.

Reactions from trade and authorities

The Innsbruck Chamber of Commerce expressed concern about the rising number of such incidents and called for an increased police presence in the evening and nighttime hours. Innsbruck retailers located in the immediate vicinity of the affected shop expressed unease on Saturday. Some were considering protecting their own stores with additional security services at short notice.

Police are asking witnesses who observed suspicious persons or vehicles in the vicinity of the crime scene during the night leading into Saturday to contact them at the known emergency number 133. Information from the Bavaria area, particularly along the border crossings, is also of interest to the investigators. Anonymity will be guaranteed, police said.

According to police, the manhunt is in full swing. Should there be new findings, the public will be informed immediately, said a Tyrolean police spokesperson. Until then, the public is asked to exercise caution and vigilance.

The incident in Innsbruck is part of a growing number of robberies targeting shops that sell pyrotechnic articles. The background is the rising demand for legal pyrotechnics, which can make shops lucrative targets for criminals. The authorities have been observing this development with growing concern for months.

In Vienna and in several German cities, there have also been robberies of gun shops and stores carrying pyrotechnics in recent months. The Tyrolean police are therefore in supra-regional exchange with the security authorities in order to identify perpetrators across borders. The current case is also being handled within the framework of this network.