There were dangerous scenes on the southern autobahn near Ilz (Styria) on Sunday: after a motorist had avoided an arrest, he fled over the autobahn at high speed. After about 60 kilometers it was over and the reason for the escape attempt was clear…
At around 9:30 a.m., a civilian patrol of the Ilz Immigration Police on the A2/Südautobahn near Ilz spotted the van. When the officers wanted to stop the van with German license plates for a check, the driver fled towards Graz.
According to the police, the driver of the vehicle showed “risky driving due to dangerous overtaking maneuvers and local excessive speed”, several police officers from different parts of Styria were asked to provide support.
Successful roadblock
After about 60 kilometers, the driver left the A2 at Mooskirchen. A pre-set roadblock was eventually able to bring the vehicle to a stop. Intermediate officials arrested the man, who also resisted the arrest en masse.
14 minors
In the hold of the rented van, officials found 26 people being dragged. These were twelve adults and 14 minors from Syria. The people who were dragged were unharmed, but had to receive first aid with food.
They were then taken to the Spielfeld Border Guard for initial investigations and interrogations, where they also applied for international protection.
Driver unknown
The suspected smuggler arrested is a Swedish citizen with a Syrian migration background. During interrogation, he denied any intention of being a smuggler and only admitted to the perilous journey itself. The man also stated that he had stopped twice on the route from Hungary and the A2 because people in the hold had complained about health problems.
The suspect, who has no criminal record in Austria, has been taken to a prison in Graz by order of the public prosecutor’s office. The massive police measures – at the borders, in the hinterland, abroad – are having an effect: for several months now, the BMI has registered an enormous drop in the number of arrests.
For example, the number of seizures in the summer of 2023 was more than 60 percent lower than the same period in 2022, a trend that continues. While the number of detainees and asylum applications has increased in many European countries (e.g. Germany, France, Italy), the number is decreasing in Austria.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
