Father arrested in Vienna-Penzing – 12-year-old allegedly abused over several years

The 17-year-old brother reportedly attempted to stop the violence. He too is said to have been struck by the father and threatened "with being killed." Both brothers initially remained alive but were given medical examinations.

Suspected years-long abuse

During the fact-finding, the suspicion arose that the 42-year-old had repeatedly physically abused his children over several years. "Police assume that the 42-year-old has been physically abusing his children for a considerable period of time," a spokesperson said. The public prosecutor's office confirmed that the man is a Syrian citizen.

As a motive, police cite an ongoing intrafamilial field of conflict: "The father wanted to punish his son because he is said to have disregarded a prohibition issued by him." According to the police report, the boy had "disregarded a prohibition issued by him" and was punished for it with beatings and death threats.

Possible death threat and weapons ban

A restraining and no-approach order as well as a provisional weapons ban were issued against the man. He is also in custody, as the authorities confirmed. "The presumption of innocence nevertheless applies," police expressly emphasized.

The mother of the two brothers is now also at the center of the ongoing investigation. According to police, the woman is believed to have tolerated the assaults; she "hardly speaks any German," the executive said. "The mother of the two brothers is believed to have tolerated the assaults," the preliminary investigation report states.

Officers will conduct further interrogations in the coming days. The medical documentation of the 12-year-old's injuries will also play a central role for the judiciary, according to investigative sources. Whether the public prosecutor's office will press charges for grievous bodily harm and dangerous threats remains open.

Role of the mother and language barrier

Should the suspicion be substantiated, the man faces several years in prison. The Vienna public prosecutor's office is examining whether individual charges fall under criminal law concerning violence and sexual offenses, or child protection law. The protection of the two boys is of "the highest priority," police said.

The children and their mother were looked after by a crisis intervention team in the apartment after the arrest. "Father in custody after abuse of his children," police summarized the incident. The older brother was, according to initial findings, also not seriously injured but is receiving psychological support.

The authorities have not yet commented on further family circumstances, such as residence status, occupation, or the parents' relationship to each other. Vienna Police announced that the case would be evaluated in coordination with the youth welfare office and the child protection group.

The public prosecutor's office stressed that the presumption of innocence applies "until a legally binding verdict" and pointed out that the further course of proceedings will only be decided once the investigations have been completed.

In cases of child abuse, the Austrian security authorities work closely with the child and youth welfare services of the respective federal state. In the current case, the Vienna Child and Youth Welfare Services were immediately involved, a spokesperson said.

Support services for affected children

The Vienna city magazine "147 Rat auf Draht" also points to support services for affected children. Counseling is anonymous and free of charge – by phone or online. The case illustrates "how important it is to take tips from the surroundings seriously," the police spokesperson concluded.

The investigations are ongoing. Police expect further witness statements to be taken in the coming days and at the same time asked for the protection of the privacy of the affected children. "The presumption of innocence nevertheless applies," was reiterated from security circles.

Should the offense turn out to be repeated abuse lasting years, life imprisonment could also be on the table. A conclusive legal assessment is currently not yet possible, the public prosecutor's office stated on Tuesday.