Blank round stops Vienna e-scooter rider’s escape

Vienna police stopped a 16-year-old e-scooter rider by firing a blank round into the Danube Canal after he allegedly knocked down and slightly injured an eight-year-old girl, ORF reported.

The Austrian teenager was riding on a pedestrian-only area at Leipziger Platz in Vienna’s 20th district on Saturday evening when he struck the girl. She suffered a minor arm injury and was treated by emergency medical staff.

The 16-year-old fled on the e-scooter. Police pursued him as he continued recklessly along pavements, according to police, putting other children playing there at risk. They avoided collisions only by moving out of his way.

Despite repeated orders to stop, the teenager continued his escape on foot towards the Döblinger Steg. Police said an officer fired a blank round from his service weapon into the Danube Canal, following the required safety precautions, because the teenager was about to get away.

The teenager then stopped and was detained. He told officers that he had failed to see the girl while riding. Police filed several administrative complaints against him.