After the knife attack on a 33-year-old man at a water park in Vienna-Floridsdorf on Tuesday morning, a suspect has been identified and arrested. The suspect is a 19-year-old Bulgarian, the Vienna Police Department reported on Saturday morning. No interrogation has taken place so far. However, the 33-year-old victim was able to identify the suspect beyond doubt, authorities said. The 19-year-old is already in custody.
The victim later told police that he knew the man from the homeless scene. Statements from residents and surveillance footage from a nearby gas station provided crucial leads to the 19-year-old suspect. According to police spokesperson Philipp Haßlinger, the man, who has no fixed residence in Vienna, is considered a “classic underground” figure. He had no prior police record and does not speak German.
By contrast, the victim has no connection to the homeless milieu and has a registered address, Haßlinger said. The two men reportedly met only two weeks ago in Floridsdorf. The 33-year-old had repeatedly lent his phone to the suspect to make calls, partly because of the suspect’s limited German skills. On the day of the incident, the 19-year-old allegedly refused to return the phone. The victim eventually regained possession of it. Following an argument, the Bulgarian reportedly stabbed him suddenly with a knife.
The suspect was finally handcuffed on Thursday near Floridsdorf’s Hauptstraße. Because he caused a major disturbance while in police custody, no interrogation has yet taken place, the spokesperson said. “In the end, the WEGA special unit had to be called,” Haßlinger added.
The 33-year-old victim was critically injured by two stab wounds. Passersby found him near the park area. An emergency operation at the hospital likely saved his life.
Meanwhile, investigations by the Vienna State Criminal Police continue. A key witness from the homeless scene has not yet been located. Police continue to seek useful information related to the incident, which can be reported at any police station or directly to the Vienna State Criminal Police, North Branch, at 01-31310-67800.
