Three people were injured in two separate knife altercations at Vienna’s Westbahnhof and in the weapon-prohibition zone at Yppenplatz in Ottakring. According to police spokesman Philipp Haßlinger, a 37-year-old man was seriously injured by a stab wound to the abdomen at Westbahnhof, and a 14-year-old is considered the suspect. Two men at Yppenplatz were more fortunate, sustaining only minor injuries to the forearm.
The altercation at the subway station at Westbahnhof began late Monday night, about 20 minutes before midnight, at a sausage stand. Haßlinger said six men were involved in the fight, but when police arrived only the victim, a 37-year-old Austrian citizen, and the 14-year-old Syrian suspect were still present. The teenager attempted to flee but was apprehended a short time later on Gerstnerstraße and taken into custody. The knife was recovered from him.
Emergency medical services provided first aid to the 37-year-old before transporting him to a hospital. By Tuesday he was no longer in life-threatening condition but had not yet been questioned. The other four men involved in the fight had fled and remained unaccounted for. The Central Branch of the State Criminal Police Office has taken over the investigation. The motive behind the incident was still unclear.
Another Brawl at Yppenplatz
Nearly two hours earlier, another brawl had broken out in the Yppenplatz weapon-prohibition zone in Ottakring, also involving a knife. According to Haßlinger, at least eight people took part. One reportedly pulled a knife and lightly injured an opponent on the forearm. Another participant was also injured. Both were transported to a hospital by emergency medical services.
Six of the eight participants, including the injured, aged between 20 and 25 and identified as either Syrian citizens or stateless, were detained by police. Two others fled and remained at large. The knife was not recovered. Charges were filed for attempted intentional serious bodily injury and for participation in a brawl.
