After two arrests have already been made in connection with the Halloween riots in Linz, as reported, other perpetrators are now being targeted. In addition, people are well prepared for the upcoming New Year’s Eve, according to the police in Upper Austria.
After the riots on Halloween night in Linz, two people were arrested before Christmas – as already reported by the “Krone”. A 21-year-old Syrian asylum seeker and a 19-year-old Spaniard are detained, a 17-year-old North Macedonian has been released. He is said to have shared a video on social media on Oct. 30, making the riots happen in a “flash mob-like” manner, state police director Andreas Pilsl said at a press conference in Linz on Tuesday.
Attempted assault
The two arrested are charged with serious joint violence, attempted serious bodily harm and the Spaniard also attempted to inflict grievous bodily harm by an official, said Ulrike Breiteneder, spokeswoman for the Linz public prosecutor’s office. The 19-year-old becomes largely known, the 21-year-old less so. He happened to be there and went in, he said.
More arrests likely
The 17-year-old stated that he was not present at the riots, he posted the video. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are likely to follow, Breiteneder said.
Conversations with parents
City police chief Karl Pogutter spoke of 129 identity checks and 20 identified people within the restricted area during the riots. Most of the people involved did not know each other before. Pilsl stressed that it was not an action for religious reasons. Many conversations have been held, including with the parents of the young people. There were also three searches of the ringleaders and 162 individual category 4 explosives were recovered from the 19-year-old Spaniard.
zero tolerance
Of the 129 people identified after Halloween night, six were under age 14 and few were female, Pogutter said. “Anyone who does not comply with the basic rules of our coexistence must expect all legal consequences. There is no tolerance for such actions,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), highlighting the prudent actions of the police.
Prepared for New Year’s Eve
The police were adequately prepared for New Year’s Eve, Pilsl and Pogutter claimed. “The entire standby unit will be on duty,” said Pilsl, “we rely on expanded troops.” To date, 1,246 checks have been carried out at the northern border to prevent explosives from being imported. This is amplified until New Year’s Eve. So far, 165 pyrotechnic items containing 38 kilograms of pure explosives have been seized.
Source: Krone
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