A large Turkish family was supposed to travel the Balkan route to Germany with the help of a smuggler – they ended up stranded in Tyrol: After a chase on Wednesday evening, the suspected people smuggler was able to escape on foot. The next day the Afghan was again targeted by the police. But he escaped again. Only during a major manhunt was the suspect finally caught.
The police chase started late Wednesday evening in Salzburg. Finally, the suspected smuggling vehicle was stopped around 11 p.m. in the Tiroler Waidring (Kitzbühel district) on the B178 Loferer Straße.
Driver in dead end street, fled on foot
“The driver initially attempted to escape with the vehicle and drove it into a street that was closed off by a barrier,” investigators said. The driver then stopped and fled on foot.
There were six people in the car: a Turkish family: father (43), mother (34) and their four children aged 6, 13, 16 and 19.
Via the Balkan route with destination Germany
An immediate search for the fugitive driver turned up nothing. “The six people were checked under immigration law and applied for asylum in Austria as part of their official act,” investigators continued. Initial investigations and the interrogation of the 43-year-old father revealed that it was a paid smuggling trip that would be carried out via the Balkan route with destination Germany.
Major manhunt with dogs and helicopter
On Thursday, the fugitive driver finally came into the sights of a police patrol in the municipality of Waidring. However, the suspect was able to escape again. As part of a large-scale manhunt – dogs and helicopters were also deployed – the fugitive was eventually captured and arrested in Waidring around 5 p.m.
Suspect probably Afghan (26)
According to current investigations, the suspected smuggler is likely a 26-year-old Afghan. An extensive investigation is currently being conducted by the Tyrol State Police, also to clearly identify the suspect. He had no identification papers with him.
Source: Krone
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