Police officers tried for a long time to persuade Harald M. (60) to give up – but in vain. The 60-year-old shot dozens of times in the direction of the agents in Vienna-Penzing. In the ensuing firefight, he was fatally hit by a Cobra man. The criminal investigation department of the state of Styria is now investigating the use of weapons. There was a gun ban against the Austrians.
According to the neighbors, there have always been problems and threats in the past. M. has been charged with coercion and dangerous threats before, which is why the weapon ban had been imposed on him before.
gun secured
The long gun, with which the 60-year-old fired dozens of times at the officers, was secured. Crime scene work and forensics were still underway on Sunday. “Other weapons were not secured, at least for now,” police spokesman Daniel Fürst reported. It was also initially unclear exactly how many shots had been fired, both by the 60-year-old and by the police. Numerous bullet holes were found in the walls.
The emergency services were called to Kienmayergasse at around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The man is said to have banged on a neighbor’s door with the gun, screaming. This one did not open and instead dialed 911, but the 60-year-old went back to his apartment.
Barricaded in apartment
The 60-year-old barricaded himself in the apartment and threatened to shoot anyone who entered. When the WEGA officers tried to enter the apartment, he fired several times in the direction of the police officers from inside the apartment. The Cobra was then alerted. According to Fürst, the negotiating group of the state criminal investigation department was also present to calm the man down and get him to give up. However in vain.
The door of the apartment has been blown
Eventually access was granted by Cobra officers. They positioned themselves directly in front of the apartment behind a ballistic shield and blew up the barricaded apartment door. The 60-year-old then fired dozens of times in the direction of the police officers and the protective shield. A shootout ensued, in which the Austrian was shot by an EKO Cobra officer, police said.
The police officers identified the firearm that the 60-year-old was still holding and immediately began first aid. The Viennese professional rescue service took over further care, the man died on the spot. There were no other people in the apartment. The agents involved in the operation received psychological support from Ministry of Interior peer support.
Source: Krone
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