Two of the three suspects in the case of politically motivated flag vandalism in Linz have been arrested. The investigation into the third suspect should also not take too long. However, the expected criminal consequences for the alleged perpetrators are not major.
The incident happened after a pro-Palestine demonstration that ended in the Linz Volksgarten on Sunday around 6 p.m. on Linz’s main square: a young boy rode his bicycle to the old town hall, got out and pulled the Israeli flag until it fell.
Passersby did not intervene
Meanwhile, passers-by walked by unmoved – without intervening or alerting the police. A short time later, another teen grabbed the flag, kicked it, dragged it across the dirty ground and threw it behind a dumpster. Passers-by also did not respond to this.
As reported, the “Krone” has videos showing the acts. The police were also able to view the video recordings. This finally made it possible to track down two suspects within a few hours.
Presumably acted upon request
“Our agents have a good overview of the Linz youth scene. “They were able to identify two young people,” says police commander Karl Pogutter, pleased with the quick success of the search. Both suspects – a 14-year-old Syrian and a 15-year-old with a migrant background – were arrested at their school on Monday morning and questioned about the incidents. The 14-year-old main perpetrator who tore down the flag is said to have already confessed to someone. “But he claims that he only acted at the request of someone else, which he strongly denies,” Pogutter emphasizes.
Look for perpetrator number 3
The second suspect allegedly tried to shield the main perpetrator from passers-by during the operation. Both are said to be free.
The man who dragged the flag on the ground has not yet been caught. But police are confident they will also investigate him.
Threat of punishment
All three are being investigated for denigrating foreign symbols (Article 317, StGB). This can result in up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 360 daily rates. Because all three are still teenagers, the sentence for them is halved. The expected consequences for the crime therefore appear effectively marginal and unlikely to be a deterrent to copycat criminals.
On Monday, the Israeli flag was hoisted again in front of the Linz town hall. City leader Klaus Luger (SPÖ) strongly condemned the actions: “Acts of such blind, politically motivated destructiveness cannot be tolerated.”
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.
