Shovel murder weapon – man destroyed police car: ‘Deportation wanted’

“I was desperate and had not eaten anything for five days” – with these words a young Syrian explained to the Vienna Regional Court on Friday why he had destroyed three police emergency vehicles at the main station on October 2, 2023.

He hit the cars parked right in front of a police station with a shovel. It didn’t bother him that several police officers, warned by a witness, kept an eye on him before they intervened: “I wanted to be deported.”

The 26-year-old had no prospects after fleeing his home country and was unable to gain a foothold in Austria. He couldn’t find a job, had no money and felt lonely. He was repeatedly expelled from social services: “I was in an unfavorable mental state. That’s why I damaged the cars. So that people notice me. I know it was a mistake. But I was close to death.”

Also admitted attempted theft
In addition to the serious material damage, the 26-year-old was also charged with attempted theft. In mid-October, he tried to steal two pairs of socks, a granola bar and deodorant from a supermarket. He also admitted this: “I did this so that a report was made to the police.” Following this statement, the judge informed the young man that Austria is currently not carrying out deportations to Syria. “Then I just want to die,” said the 26-year-old.

Ultimately, the previously innocent man was given a five-month suspended prison sentence in this country. “You are overwhelmed by your situation and are on your own. “Yet you cannot just damage police cars,” said the judge. “It was a big mistake,” the 26-year-old replied. The verdict is not yet final, the 26-year-old was not represented by a lawyer and therefore has three days to file an appeal.