After a series of bomb threats in Austria, the Swiss authorities have now initiated proceedings against the suspected 20-year-old Swiss man. The suspect was released after his arrest in October. Extradition is out of the question and domestic authorities have only limited investigative capabilities.
First the good news: Austria and Switzerland are now exchanging information about the case of the 20-year-old Swiss who is said to be responsible for the series of bomb threats. This was not the case before; the authorities were engaged in a real game of ping-pong.
There’s a threat of a bomb
The man was first arrested in Switzerland in mid-October, but was soon released. A case has now been launched against the 20-year-old in his home country of Switzerland. At the same time, investigations continue in Austria, Linz prosecutor spokeswoman Ulrike Breiteneder confirmed on Wednesday.
Authorities have investigated a total of 27 anonymous bomb threats across Austria since September 30, all of which were received by email. Train stations were particularly hard hit, but so were schools and shopping centers. The subsequent police operations sometimes led to large-scale evictions and evacuations.
According to Breiteneder, domestic proceedings have been initiated in Switzerland, also regarding the Austrian facts. “The seized items are also being evaluated in Switzerland.” It concerns electronic devices. The Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office, which was still responsible in Austria at the time, sent a request to Switzerland in October to take over the prosecution.
The suspect cannot be extradited
The investigations in both countries are running in parallel “because it is more effective” if the Austrian authorities investigate in Austria and the Swiss authorities in Switzerland. But we exchange ideas. “The responsible prosecutors are in contact with each other.”
As a Swiss citizen, the suspect cannot be extradited to Austria for prosecution – unless he consents, which he has not done. The procedure in Linz runs parallel. “We cannot stop it, because otherwise we would legally stop the Swiss process,” Breiteneder explains.
Electronic evaluation is still in progress
Swiss spokeswoman Daniela Dobler confirmed that “the public prosecutor’s office in St. Gallen is conducting criminal proceedings in the said case.” The evaluation of the seized “electronic devices is still ongoing and will be carried out by law enforcement authorities in Switzerland and will also be passed on to the Linz Public Prosecutor’s Office after the legal assistance procedure has been completed,” the report said. As has been shown so far, this may take some time for the Swiss authorities.
Source: Krone
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