Not legally binding

After four shots: Three traffickers on trial

The three traffickers at their trial in Ried im Innkreis

(Bild: Daniel Scharinger, Krone KREATIV)

It was a breakneck chase in which four shots were fired. Now three smugglers - one Syrian and two Afghans - were in the dock in Ried (Upper Austria) and faced up to ten years in prison. However, the sentences, which are not legally binding, were much lower.

The three smugglers had 18 Turks, including small children, in their white van when they drove from Hungary to Germany. They were told to be quiet because they were also armed, the traffickers had threatened the refugees.

Civilian car rammed
The police became aware of the van when it drove off the highway in Ort im Innkreis, presumably to avoid being checked near Suben. However, the driver accelerated and collided with the officers' civilian car, who also fired four warning shots. The van finally landed in the ditch, fortunately without overturning, and the escape was over.

"Hired" via TikTok
At first, the older of the accused said that he had only been driving along and knew nothing, but at the trial the two Afghans (22, 37) and the Syrian (23) pleaded guilty. They were questioned separately, one of them stated that he had become aware of the smuggling trips via TikTok. "It was bullshit what I did," said the first defendant.

The trial was scheduled to last until 7 p.m., but as all the defendants accepted responsibility, the verdict was announced shortly after 3 p.m: All three were found guilty, the younger Afghan and the Syrian were each given 34 months, ten of which were unconditional, the 37-year-old Afghan, who is considered to be one of those behind the crime, was given 36 months, 12 of which were unconditional. The latter accepted the sentence, but as the public prosecutor's office did not make a statement, all sentences are not yet final.