After bomb threats

Proceedings initiated: Swiss man not in custody

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Jauschowetz Birbaumer KroneLesereporter)

Following a series of bomb threats in Austria, the Swiss authorities have now initiated proceedings against the 20-year-old Swiss suspect. After his arrest in October, the suspect was released. Extradition is ruled out and the domestic authorities have only limited investigative options.

The good news first: Austria and Switzerland are now at least exchanging information in the case of the 20-year-old Swiss man who is allegedly responsible for the series of bomb threats. This was not the case before, the authorities were engaged in a veritable ping-pong.

Bomb threatener on the loose
The man was initially arrested in Switzerland in mid-October, but was soon released. In the meantime, proceedings have been initiated against the 20-year-old in his home country of Switzerland. Investigations in Austria are continuing in parallel, confirmed the Linz public prosecutor's office spokeswoman Ulrike Breiteneder on Wednesday.

The authorities have been investigating a total of 27 anonymous bomb threats across Austria since September 30, all of which were received by e-mail. Train stations were particularly affected, but also schools and shopping centers. The police operations that followed sometimes led to large-scale evacuations.

Since September 30, the authorities have been investigating a total of 27 anonymous bomb threats across Austria, all of which were received by email.

(Bild: Jauschowetz Christian)

Domestic proceedings have been initiated in Switzerland, also in relation to the Austrian facts, according to Breiteneder. "The seized items are also being evaluated in Switzerland." These were electronic devices. The Graz public prosecutor's office, which was still responsible in Austria at the time, had sent a request to Switzerland in October to take over the prosecution.

Suspect cannot be extradited
The investigations in both countries are running in parallel "because it is more effective" if Austrian authorities investigate in Austria and Swiss authorities in Switzerland. However, they are exchanging information. "The responsible public prosecutors are in contact with each other."

As a Swiss citizen, the suspect cannot be extradited to Austria for prosecution - unless he agrees, which he has not. The proceedings in Linz are running in parallel. "We can't stop it because otherwise we would legally cut off the Swiss from their proceedings," explained Breiteneder.

Electronic evaluation still underway
From Switzerland, spokeswoman Daniela Dobler confirmed "that the public prosecutor's office in St. Gallen is conducting criminal proceedings in the aforementioned matter". The evaluation of the seized "electronic devices is still ongoing and will be carried out by the prosecution authorities in Switzerland and will also be forwarded to the Linz public prosecutor's office once the mutual legal assistance proceedings have been concluded", the statement continued. As has been shown so far, this can take some time for the Swiss authorities.