Trial in Wels: Defendants Admit to Parts of the ATM Bombings

In the jury courtroom, the judicial police officers had to record the personal details of the men, aged 36, 28, 35, and 37, which took some time. The reason was their numerous relevant prior convictions in Holland according to criminal record extracts, such as receiving stolen goods, aggravated theft, or money laundering. The prosecutor therefore spoke of a "parade example of organized crime" and emphasized with reference to the large number of police and judicial police officers at the regional court: "Today's case is a big deal."

The now-argued bombing spree began in April 2025 with the act in Wels, in which the third and fourth defendants are said to have stolen nearly 175,000 euros. In total, the indictment accuses the men of offenses in Wels, Gmunden, as well as in Vienna and Brunn am Gebirge in 2025, including in part aggravated robbery and theft. The stolen goods amounted to more than 500,000 euros, and the men also caused considerable property damage.

Charges and Loot

"Selected direct perpetrators," who are assigned to specific tasks, received everything necessary from the association, such as explosives or high-powered cars for the escape. The prosecutor worked out this organizational background in her opening statement. The indictment alone for the cases in Wels and Gmunden comprises 33 pages, she further explained. Nothing is left to chance, according to the prosecutor: "A parade example of organized crime."

From autumn 2024, Austria had been "overrun by a wave of ATM bombings," she began her remarks. Added to this are those from colleagues in Vienna, since in June and July 2025, several ATMs are said to have been blown up there as well as in Brunn am Gebirge. Investigators see this as the work of a structured network with a clear division of tasks between planning, procurement of materials, and execution of the acts.

At the start of the trial on Tuesday, three of the four defendants made partial confessions. They thereby admitted to individual charges while contesting others. Due to incomplete access to the case files, the proceedings against one of the defendants were separated, so that only three men are being tried in the current block. A verdict is expected on Wednesday.

Partial Confessions and Course of Proceedings

The prosecutor described the gang's approach as a division of labor: individual members were deliberately assigned as "selected direct perpetrators" for specific tasks and received everything necessary from the association, from explosives to high-powered cars for the escape. This structure allows conclusions to be drawn about a criminal network that extends beyond the direct participants in the acts. The indictment therefore accuses the men of having been part of an organized group whose goal was the systematic plundering of ATMs.

The defense announced that it would seek to classify the partial confessions more closely in the further proceedings. The defendants initially remained silent on the charges of organizational complicity and referred to their individual contributions. From judicial circles it was said that the confessions could shorten the trial overall, since individual sequences of events would no longer need to be unraveled in full.

The security measures at the Wels Regional Court remained heightened throughout the entire first day of the trial. In addition to the ten judicial police officers in the jury courtroom, additional police forces were stationed in and around the building. Visitors and press representatives had to pass through tightened checks. The authorities justified the measures by citing the international background of the defendants and possible connections to criminal structures abroad.

Structure of the Gang

In the prosecutor's statements, it became clear that the acts had significant consequences for the affected regions. In addition to the loot of more than 500,000 euros, considerable property damage was caused to the blown-up ATMs, which had to be borne by the banks and insurance companies. Residents in Wels and Gmunden also reported loud explosions that woke many people from their sleep on the nights in question.

The origin of the suspects also plays a central role in the proceedings. The men come from the Netherlands and in part have extensive prior convictions. The prosecution sees this as an indication that the acts were carried out by a cross-border gang that operated deliberately in several Austrian federal states. Cooperation with the Dutch authorities, according to judicial sources, was close.

With the end of the first day of the trial, the proceedings were continued on Wednesday. Then, according to the court, the closing arguments are to be delivered and the verdicts subsequently pronounced. Observers expect severe sentences for the defendants in light of the partial confessions. The prosecution did not make a concrete sentencing request in its opening statement, but made the severity of the charges clear.

Outlook on the Verdict

The proceedings in Wels are embedded in a broader wave of investigations against ATM bombers in Austria. In recent months, the authorities had handled several similar cases in which foreign groups of perpetrators were also suspected. The Wels trial is considered one of the first major criminal proceedings in which the organized structure of the acts is being comprehensively presented in court.

Finally, the prosecutor referred to the preventive character of the proceedings. The consistent prosecution of such acts should make clear that Austria takes action against organized crime in the area of ATM bombings. The verdict on Wednesday is being awaited with anticipation, as it could have a signaling effect for similar proceedings.