Murder of a Chechen man and injury of a Serbian in Vienna – the suspect is of Turkish origin and is wanted in Europe
The Ottakring district in Vienna was shaken after a violent crime occurred on Thursday evening inside a Turkish restaurant near Yppenmarkt square. A 33-year-old Chechen man was shot dead, while a 55-year-old Serbian man was seriously injured. The police confirmed that the main suspect, a man of Turkish origin living in Austria, has been identified and is now the target of an international manhunt.
According to Austrian media reports, a European arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect along with an international search warrant in coordination with police agencies in EU countries. Vienna police spokesman Philipp Haßlinger explained that several raids have already taken place in various areas within and around Vienna in locations believed to be connected to the suspect or his relatives. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of him fleeing abroad.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the bloody confrontation began as a financial dispute over a loan. The disagreement escalated into violence when the suspect opened fire, resulting in the immediate death of the Chechen man and serious injuries to the Serbian man. The injured man was taken to the hospital where he is receiving treatment and his condition is stable.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of two other individuals who were inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting for questioning. They denied any connection to the crime. One of the detainees, a 35-year-old man, stated that a 'sharp financial dispute' preceded the incident and quickly turned into a tragedy.
The police continue their investigations to determine the exact motive behind the crime, currently focusing on the circle of relatives and acquaintances of the suspect. Family members and potential friends are being interrogated in an attempt to locate him. So far, authorities have not received any confirmed information regarding the whereabouts of the fugitive perpetrator.