Early Friday morning, an ATM was blown up in the city center of Wels. The police launched a major manhunt, which apparently yielded no immediate results. Authorities remained extremely tight-lipped about the details of the crime and the investigation.
The cash dispenser was located at a bank branch in the inner city. Around 3:30 AM, an explosion severely damaged the building. Police cordoned off the area and initiated the large-scale search.
An explosive ordnance disposal expert examined the scene, and the State Criminal Police of Upper Austria took over the investigation. Throughout the day, police declined to provide any details—such as the number of perpetrators or the amount stolen.
Attacks on ATMs have been on the rise in Austria: by mid-April there had already been 17 such incidents, compared with 13 in the previous year. The perpetrators, who often use extremely violent methods, are frequently linked to organized groups from the Netherlands.
