Barricaded in house

Styrian man killed in shootout with police

The passionate but mentally unstable motorcyclist lived in this house in Hönigtal.(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

A Styrian DJ (46) threatened on social media to blow up his house in Hönigtal. When the Cobra task force arrived, he fired at the officers with an illegal long gun – the "Krone" has the first details of the operation.

"Come on, now I'll get you all! I've placed an explosive device on your property," a 46-year-old Styrian posted in a self-made video on social media on Monday. At the same time, he set fire to his lawn with a lighter – in no time at all, apparently aided by an accelerant, a cross-shaped mark burned into the grass.

At this point, the passionate motorcyclist and disc jockey was likely already severely mentally impaired, as his remaining words sounded confused and incomprehensible.

Barricaded with a sawed-off hunting rifle
A short time later, relatives alerted the police. They must have been frightened, because the man, who was reportedly known to the police, had sent them pictures of firearms and threatened to kill them. Patrol officers, the Rapid Intervention Group (SIG), and a little later the Cobra task force raced to the house where the Styrian man lived alone in rather unkempt conditions.

However, according to information from the "Krone" newspaper, he had barricaded himself in with a hunting rifle that he had modified and sawed off himself, and repeatedly threatened to blow everything up.

The officers negotiated with him for several hours.(Bild: Jürgen Fuchs)

Dozens of shots fired
The officers negotiated with him for several hours to get him to surrender – but to no avail. At around 3 a.m., there was only one last step left – to storm the house! But when the police stormed the house, the 46-year-old suddenly opened fire. An intense, highly dangerous exchange of gunfire ensued.

According to information obtained by the "Krone," dozens of shots were fired. Three shots fired by Cobra officers are believed to have been fatal. Detailed investigations and inquiries are currently underway.

Emergency responders and an emergency doctor who had been informed in advance immediately provided first aid to the victim. However, he died at the scene. The officers remained unharmed.