They came at night, blew up what felt like half the block of flats and flew over the mountains at lightning speed with their tuned cars: these are researchers’ impressions of the countless ATM blasts that have taken place between Estonia and Serbia over the past few years. months. The fact is that, according to Europol, the number of attacks is increasing drastically and that they are becoming more and more dangerous.
European police are concerned: “Extremely high explosives are increasingly being used, which can even collapse buildings and kill innocent people,” emphasizes Europol spokeswoman Claire Georges in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Half of the suspects from the Netherlands
Well-organized criminal gangs would have specialized in these types of bombings and would also train criminals in a targeted manner. Detectives in Utrecht even excavated their own training center for automatic demolition last year. The criminals would usually haunt an entire region in very fast cars and blow up various machines. They often operated internationally, in neighboring countries. Around 2021, for example, half of the suspects for attacks in Germany came from the Netherlands.
Austria is not yet at the center of the bombers
Meanwhile, the situation in Austria is still very calm. Nevertheless, developments in this country are also closely monitored. So far this year there have been “only” two such incidents, both in Lower Austria. No surprise for the investigators, because the perpetrator groups from the Balkans infiltrate mainly Hungary and Slovakia. The greatest danger clearly lies in the explosives used.
Highly sensitive substances
Especially with so-called homemade bombs, or homemade bombs, the explosive effect is difficult to estimate. It can lead to life-threatening danger to yourself and others. “Without specialist expertise, these highly sensitive substances can be assessed as extremely dangerous,” say the experts from the local police.
France is successful in fighting the blast. There, the ATMs are prepared with special ink so that the stolen money becomes useless. In this country people often still rely on the motto, react instead of act.
The background of the gangs is explained in more detail in an interview with Dietmar Csefan, head of the organized crime division of the Ministry of the Interior:
„krone“:What is the current situation in Austria in relation to the brutal ATM attacks?
Dietmar Csefan: In contrast to the situation in other European countries, we are currently seeing a slight decrease in the number of ATM explosions in Austria.
Which explosives are used by the perpetrators in these coups and how great is the danger?
Currently, mainly solid explosives such as TATP (triacetone triperoxide) are used, which is also manufactured in-house and is highly explosive. The danger for residents or passers-by is correspondingly high.
Where are the brains behind the attacks and where do the perpetrators come from?
Successful investigations into this crime area revealed that the perpetrators came from the Balkans and entered the country via Hungary and Slovakia.
How can financial institutions better protect themselves?
Colored cartridges have proven to be a time-tested passive defense tool, rendering the money instantly and permanently worthless in such an explosion. Not only does this have the acute effect of preventing the attackers from capturing anything useful, but it also serves as a deterrent to future attacks.
What initiatives are the police taking in the fight against ATM bombers?
A specialized national network of researchers is active in Austria – and through EUROPOL national findings are regularly exchanged with other countries. As in many other areas, international networking is an important factor in catching these gangs.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
