Algerian Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Aiding Vienna ATM Bombing Gang Vienna, April 8, 2026

A 27-year-old Algerian man was sentenced to seven years in prison on Friday for supporting a criminal gang responsible for 14 bank ATM bombings across Vienna, according to court documents and corroborated sources.

The Vienna Regional Court found the man guilty of providing critical logistical support to the gang, including an apartment in the Donaustadt district and assistance with securing e-scooters and rental cars used in the attacks. The bombings, which targeted ATMs throughout the city, caused significant property damage and disrupted banking services.

## Role in the Bombings The defendant admitted to leasing an apartment to the gang and connecting them with a contact to obtain vehicles, though he claimed his involvement was purely financial. "Als ich erfahren habe, was die machen, habe ich sie rausgeworfen" ("When I found out what they were doing, I threw them out"), he told the court, asserting he had initially been unaware of their activities. Prosecutors, however, argued he continued to facilitate their operations despite knowing their intent.

The gang's spree ended violently on April 6, 2025, when police confronted two perpetrators during an attempted bombing. One suspect was arrested, while another fled to a rented apartment in Vienna’s 22nd district before being apprehended. Two others were shot by officers during the operation.

## Gang's Operations and Aftermath Authorities linked the group to 14 separate ATM explosions, which followed a pattern of using rented vehicles and stolen e-scooters to approach targets. The Algerian defendant’s apartment served as a temporary base for the gang, where they stored equipment and planned attacks.

The case highlighted the challenges of combating organized crime in Vienna, where transient networks often exploit short-term rentals and disposable transportation. The court emphasized the severity of the sentence as a deterrent, noting the defendant’s role enabled the gang’s repeated offenses.

No further arrests have been announced, but investigators confirmed the probe into the gang’s broader network remains active. The sentenced man is expected to appeal the verdict, according to legal observers familiar with the case.