Teenagers in court after setting fire to a teacher's apartment in Vienna
A horrific criminal case in Vienna has captured public attention, as seven teenagers aged between 14 and 17 are being tried on charges related to a series of serious crimes against a 28-year-old teacher. According to the indictment, the young woman was subjected to threats, theft, and abuse over several months before they intentionally set fire to her apartment. The youngest of the defendants, who is only 14 years old, described the incident in court as a "joke that got out of control."
The incidents occurred between July 2024 and January 2025. The lawyer of teacher Monika Ohman stated in the Vienna regional court that her client suffered for months from harassment and extortion. Three of the main defendants – a 15-year-old Iraqi, a 17-year-old Romanian, and a 15-year-old Afghan – have been in custody for eight months. They have all denied the charges against them, which include threats, coercion, and extortion. Four other teenagers are also being tried on related charges.
During the hearing, the 14-year-old defendant admitted that he was present when two older teenagers broke into the teacher's apartment during her vacation. He said in court, "I didn't think much, I just went with them." According to his statements, they searched for valuable items before setting some things on fire using a lighter and escaping through the window. He added, "I didn't think it would end this badly."
The apartment was completely burned, but the firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the neighboring apartments. In addition to the charges of arson and theft, the main defendants face charges related to harassment and illegal behavior towards the teacher.
A psychological report submitted to the court stated that the teacher is still suffering from severe psychological stress as a result of what happened. Due to her difficult psychological state, she will not testify in person, but the court will present a video recording of her previous testimony. The trial continues at a time when concerns are growing about the rise of youth crime in Vienna.