The special vehicle “Survivor” has been part of the fleet of the Viennese police special unit Wega since April this year. Now the heavily armored vehicle was demonstrated during an exercise. ‘Survivor’ was used during a suspected hostage situation in the building of a former publishing house in Simmering. The vehicle is primarily intended for particularly dangerous missions, including terrorist situations.
Wednesday’s exercise for numerous media representatives was attended by an armed perpetrator who barricaded himself in a building. There was another civilian in the house who needed to be rescued. Two teams of Wega guards approached the building – one on foot via the internal stairs, the other from outside via the ‘Survivors’ ladder structure through a window.
This ladder on the roof of the vehicle can be extended up to seven meters. This would also allow entry from the outside through a second-floor window, Brigadier General Andreas Kohs, head of the special forces department of the Vienna State Police Directorate, said when asked by APA.
Training in an empty building
In this way, civilians were also saved during the exercise. The ‘Survivor’ is not only intended to rescue people or emergency services from a danger area, but also to approach a particularly dangerous situation. The training facility – the building has been empty for some time – has been available to Wega since February 2023 until it is demolished. This means that hydraulic and technical equipment can also be tested without the damage having to be repaired
Costs of 1.9 million euros for Karner ‘money well invested’
“It is important that the population shows this publicly,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) said afterwards. “It is our job to ensure the safety of people in this city.” In addition to sufficient staff, modern and up-to-date equipment is also needed, says Karner. The importance of good equipment for the self-protection of police officers became apparent a few days ago when an officer in Favoriten was attacked by a man with a knife. “Thank God he escaped with minor abrasions because he was wearing a stab protection vest,” Karner emphasized. ‘Survivor’ cost 1.9 million euros. “This is money well invested,” said the Minister of the Interior.
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.
