54 refugees, including three women and a child, were discovered in a trailer parked in the A1 Großram car park in the municipality of Pressbaum in Lower Austria. According to police, the driver of the truck, a 46-year-old Polish citizen, had placed the team in the blazing sun for over an hour and did not respond to knocks.
On Thursday afternoon, the agents of the Alland highway police were informed about the truck. Knocking noises had previously been reported to the management by telephone. The trailer, which was about 40 degrees, was opened on site and the refugees were freed. They were taken to a shady spot by the emergency services and given something to drink.
3000 Euros per person
An investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Service of Lower Austria has revealed that the migrants reportedly paid around 3,000 euros per person for transport from a camp in Serbia to Austria. They were then taken to the Serbian-Hungarian border, where they crossed a border fence with the help of smugglers. The refugees were then picked up by the truck.
Nine-hour journey without water
During the eight to nine o’clock drive, the driver did not stop. In addition, the drinks on board would not have been enough to quench the thirst of the migrants. All 54 people applied for international protection after the liberation. After first aid and interrogation, they were taken to the Schwechat police station.
46-year-old arrested
According to the police, the refugees come from Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan and Turkey. The 46-year-old is suspected of having previously performed a similar towing operation. Investigations into possible further tours are underway. During questioning, the truck driver did not confess. He was arrested and taken to St. Pölten prison.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
