The almost accidental discovery of about seventy weapons and explosives in a messie house in Carinthia caused a stir. Two Austrians and two Britons – three of them pensioners – are also said to have built an almost completed pipe bomb. Whether and what they intended to do with it should become clear in the trial before the regional court of Klagenfurt.
“In the house were 31 long guns, 17 handguns, several silencers, one and a half kilograms of explosives, two practice hand grenades, several acids and blackpowder, and a firearm disguised as a cane,” explained the state’s Rainer Dionisio. police station shortly after the search in February this year of the dilapidated and remote house in Kleindiex in Ruden.
A paramedic called to the small community due to a medical emergency alerted police when he discovered the guns in the home. The four suspects lived together, hoarded weapons and explosives and, according to the public prosecutor, prepared a crime. There is a risk of a prison sentence of up to five years.
Should a bomb be detonated?
But what is it actually about? All four suspects – a Grazer (29), a Brit (68), a Brit (68) and a Tyrolean (69) – are charged with illegal possession of weapons. They are also accused of building an almost completed pipe bomb and must therefore answer under Article 175(1) for preparing a crime using nuclear energy, ionizing radiation or explosives.
The main defendant – a 68-year-old British woman – claims that all the weapons, detonators, acids and ingredients for the alleged bomb belonged to her. However, the suspect denies that the objects found are intended to build a bomb. “I’m not a terrorist!” According to her, all the objects had a different function: the acids were used to remove rust, the tubular girders were intended as silencers. She herself could not explain how the large amount of explosives ended up in the messie house.
Fear of the end of the world and a nuclear attack
In court, the two Britons’ fears of a nuclear attack by Russian President Putin were repeatedly discussed. They would have prepared with gas masks and food. The first suspect, who has reconstructed weapons and claims to have been in the British army, wanted to protect her housemates from such an attack.
“I was naive!”
De Grazer and the 68-year-old Briton do not want to know about the guns: “I was naive. When I found out how many guns were in my house, I was shocked,” said the Briton, who according to his lawyer was the syndrome, and so a psychiatric report was requested. “I came to live in the house because of a financial emergency, in fact I was never home!” swears the 29-year-old from Graz. He only moved in a few weeks before the police operation. Nevertheless: He is subject to an outright ban on weapons because of a criminal record.
And the Tyrolean? Like the first suspect, she has a gun possession card, which means she’s allowed to own five guns, but many more illegal guns have been seized. “Sometimes we shot rats in the house with pistols,” says the woman. She also denied building a bomb.
The presumption of innocence applies to everyone. The trial has been postponed, a verdict is pending.
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.
