Fake call: Cobra rushes to the scene, but is not needed.
A fake emergency call triggered a major police response in Vorarlberg. Austria’s elite special forces unit, the Cobra, rushed to the scene only to find there was no real danger.
According to http://5min.at, the alarm came in as an urgent incident that required immediate action. Officers from Cobra were deployed and headed to the location at high speed. Once on site, however, it quickly became clear that the call was a hoax and no operation was needed.
Authorities have not yet said who made the fake call or what the motive was. Investigations are ongoing. It is also still unclear who will have to cover the costs of the unnecessary deployment.
The incident highlights the strain that false alarms put on emergency services. Cobra is Austria’s anti-terror unit and is only called out for high-risk situations. A wasted deployment ties up resources that could be needed elsewhere.
Police are reminding the public that making false emergency calls is a criminal offense and can result in heavy fines and charges. Anyone with information about the caller is asked to contact the police.