Mentally ill

Notorious “bomber” on trial

The accused wanted to secure a place to sleep - and resorted to quite drastic means to do so.(Bild: Chantall Dorn)

A homeless man claimed to have planted a bomb in Feldkirch. Now he has been put on trial for it.

The 26-year-old invalid pensioner has already made the acquaintance of the court several times. Seven entries, three of them for making dangerous threats. Now the man will stand before the judge again on Monday for such an offense.

Several bomb threats
The homeless man first called the emergency services on April 11 and claimed to have planted a bomb in Feldkirch. A large contingent of police officers then set out to search. However, they do not find a bomb. The operation is ended. The next day, the caller calls again. This time he claims to have planted a bomb at Feldkirch station. Another large-scale police operation is necessary, the station area has to be cleared and residents evacuated. The next day, the bomb-thief is arrested.

Wanted a place to sleep in the prison
During the trial on Monday, the homeless man explained succinctly what motivated him to make the threatening calls: "I wanted to force a place to sleep in the prison." Due to his mental illness, he had already been treated at Rankweil LKH. Judge Christoph Stadler sentenced the man to 14 months in prison for making dangerous threats with explosives and added in the convicted man's direction: "Now your wish for a place to sleep in prison has come true after all."