Mayor reassured

Amok alarm in Lower Austria: Ex-pupil hunted by EKO Cobra

Special units hunted down the fugitive 14-year-old.(Bild: P. Huber)

The small community of Lichtenwörth in Lower Austria experienced anxious minutes on Tuesday: a 14-year-old known to the authorities is said to have made a specific threat against the local school - a scenario that immediately triggered a red alert. The suspect was located in the Wiener Neustadt area and was questioned by the police. No details are available for the time being.

Following an emergency call from the school management in the early afternoon, heavily armed Cobra special forces were quickly deployed to the tranquil town of Lichtenwörth. While police cars raced through the streets, the whole town held its breath. According to the "Krone" newspaper, the suspect was located in the early evening and questioned by the police.

Further details are not being released for the time being for tactical investigative reasons.

Prior to this, the school management had reacted without hesitation together with the security authorities: Building secured, pupils taken to safety, parents informed. According to information from the "Krone" newspaper, the decision to call the police was made because, according to witnesses, the pupil had allegedly threatened some teachers with death.

Special units hunted down the fugitive 14-year-old.(Bild: P. Huber)

Mayor calls for calm
ÖVP local leader Manuel Zusag - in contrast to the provincial police directorate - immediately turned to the unsettled population. In an urgent message, he initially stated: "As things stand, there is no acute danger. We have initiated all protective measures and are in constant contact with the authorities. Please do not spread any rumors."

After around two hours, the head of the town addressed the population again. He could now announce that the "all-clear" could be given. The wanted person had been arrested by the security forces.

The head of the village posted on Facebook about the latest developments:

While the special forces were still in action in the afternoon, the village chief tried to keep his nerve at all times. In an interview with the "Krone" newspaper, he emphasized: "We are trying to clarify the situation, fortunately only a few children were still at school in the afternoon."

Suspect committed petrol station robbery
The 14-year-old is no stranger to the police. In October, he and a 15-year-old accomplice committed a robbery at a petrol station in Wiener Neustadt. A few days after the crime, the younger boy handed himself in to the police and confessed to the robbery. He stated that he had gone into the busy store wearing a balaclava and had threatened an employee with a blank-firing weapon.

Both youths were initially taken to Wiener Neustadt prison. After 14 days in custody, they were released on conditional release.