Knife attack in Vienna-Ottakring: Pensioner attacks brother-in-law

Vienna's special operations unit WEGA responded to the emergency call and arrived at the residential building. The officers secured the crime scene and took the alleged perpetrator into custody. According to the current state of knowledge, no member of the police team was injured.

Emergency services and investigations

The exact background of the crime remains unclear. Police stated that investigations were ongoing in all directions. Neither the victim nor the suspect initially made any public statements about what happened.

The attack in Ottakring occurred only a few days after another knife incident in Vienna-Favoriten. Earlier on Monday morning, a 15-year-old had attacked a 19-year-old with a knife in a friend's apartment, inflicting superficial cuts. Police confirmed this incident, but a connection between the two crimes was initially not assumed.

Second knife incident in Favoriten

The Vienna City Police Command is conducting further investigations into the case. The public prosecutor's office has been involved, as is customary for an offense of this severity. A decision on whether the pensioner will be taken into pre-trial detention was expected to be made during the course of Tuesday.

The victim's condition was described by police as serious but stable. The man was taken to a Vienna hospital and operated on immediately. According to the doctors' assessment at the time of the report, there was no longer any danger to his life.

Victim's condition

Vienna police announced that they would handle the case transparently as part of their ongoing investigations. Further information, such as on the relationship between perpetrator and victim or the exact sequence of events, is expected to be provided in the coming days according to the current state of affairs.