Police in Court

Gang of juvenile robbers chased victims into the teachers’ lounge

A gang of youths terrorized children and students in Vienna’s Döbling district.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/stock.adobe.com)

Together with minors, 14- and 15-year-olds known to the authorities committed brutal robberies in Vienna’s Döbling district. The families of the main suspects sought refuge in Austria in 2015. At that time, the boys were toddlers; now, according to the prosecutor, they are “repeat offenders.”

“The gang is constantly hanging around in the 19th district. Many children are afraid and don’t even report incidents, even though something happens every day,” says one victim to the police. “It’s well known among students that the group is armed with knives and brass knuckles,” says another. “They’re in front of the school every day,” says a third. “When they spot a target, they call each other over.”

Only 15 and already three prior convictions
Scenes from Vienna-Döbling that culminated in a trial on Friday. Sitting before the judge are eight children—seven boys and one girl. Aged 14 to 15 and averaging 150 cm in height. Most hold Afghan citizenship; the main perpetrators have been in Austria since 2015. Back then, the boys were toddlers—now they are “repeat offenders.”

In this case, we are dealing with unusually young offenders.

Anwalt Wolfgang Haas

Bild: Andi Schiel

The first defendant is represented by Wolfgang Haas; the second defendant, born in 2011, has racked up three prior convictions in just one year. “Including rape,” says Judge Georg Allmayer in the courtroom. “Wallah!” the 15-year-old shouts angrily and says, “Okay, why do you have to say that so loud right now?”

“There are two patients here”
This time, the charges include several robberies, including one at a school. There, the boys chased their victim all the way to the teachers’ lounge. Teachers blocked the door, but the youths kicked it, shouting, “That b**** should come out.”

In another robbery, a defendant gathered his accomplices at the Heiligenstadt subway station with the words “There are two patients here.” “What do you mean by patients?” asks Mr. Rat. – “Two people we can fleece.” – “What does ‘fleece’ mean?” – “Well, rob.”

The modus operandi was that minors under the age of 14 were always present during the crimes, and the older perpetrators shifted the blame onto them.

Der Staatsanwalt im Wiener Landl

Police officers have to secure the courtroom
The boys find their trial amusing; they grin at each other. Children who should actually be in school are constantly coming in and out of the courtroom. They’re having fun, too.

“The scheme was that minors under the age of 14 were always present during the crimes, and the older ones shifted the blame onto them,” the prosecutor hints at who the spectators are—the very young, but apparently not harmless.

Two police officers are stationed outside the courtroom, two inside, along with several court guards. On Friday evening, the lenient sentences were handed down: one year, partially suspended, for the first defendant; 15 months without parole for the 15-year-old, for whom eight months of a suspended sentence from a previous conviction were also revoked.