Robberies around the Rösselmühlpark in Graz have repeatedly made negative headlines in recent weeks. Now there has been a success from the point of view of the criminal police: Two 16-year-old Syrians are in custody. One for aggravated robbery, his accomplice also for attempted murder.

The fugitives are suspected of robbing an 18-year-old man in Maria-Stromberger-Gasse shortly after midnight last Sunday. The robbers were masked with balaclavas. When a friend of the Romanian victim intervened and punched one of the perpetrators in the face, the masked man stabbed him in the back with a knife. 

Victim had to undergo emergency surgery in Graz
The 19-year-old Italian suffered a punctured lung and had to undergo emergency surgery. He barely survived. Thanks to intensive investigations, officers from the robbery group in the Graz Criminal Investigation Department were able to identify the perpetrators. Supported by the Einsatzgruppe zur Bekämpfung der Straßenkriminalität (EGS) and the Wega special unit, the two Syrians were arrested on Monday night in the Graz-Umgebung district and in Vienna. One of the two had a noticeably bloody injury on his lip.

Evidence seized
Several shoulder bags like the victim's, a balaclava and a knife were seized from the suspects, who live in homes for unaccompanied refugee minors. The young people are still rather tight-lipped about this. Further investigations are still necessary, which are now being carried out by the Vienna public prosecutor's office due to the main perpetrator's place of residence.

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