Memories of 2013 – Poacher Alois H. left a deadly trail of blood in Lower Austria

The poacher, who had been killing deer in Lower Austria and Styria for years and cutting off the animals’ heads as trophies, walked into a police checkpoint near Annaberg shortly after midnight on September 17, 2013. But when the deer shooter, who was being chased by police, had to stop, he panicked and broke through the barrier.

The disaster kept the country in suspense
A murderous rampage began that kept the entire country in suspense for about 24 hours. Although the initially unknown phantom had already shot and seriously injured a heavily armed officer of the elite Cobra unit, it by no means fled, but lay in wait in the forest and then in its own hunting lodge.

Because the gunman then shot from his hiding place at police officers, firefighters and rescue workers – at virtually everything that moved – the operational management even requested support from the armed forces, namely a tank. On the second day of the disaster, the tracked vehicle broke through the walls of the shelter and special forces combed the area.

Three police officers and a paramedic were killed
After a long search, Alois H’s charred body was eventually found in a secret bunker. He had set a fire and shot a bullet in the head. The sad result of the heinous act: three police officers and a paramedic were killed. A number of technical, tactical and organizational innovations were subsequently implemented in national police work.