Heirs uncover hidden weapons cache in Vöcklabruck
Saturday 15th August 2026 on 07:00 in
Austria
Heirs clearing a family home in the Vöcklabruck district discovered a hidden weapons cache containing 24 firearms and several crates of ammunition, ORF reported.
The weapons were found in June behind a locked steel door in the cellar. The heirs notified the Vöcklabruck police station.
Police seized 16 long guns, eight handguns and eight ammunition crates. The cache also contained war material and prohibited weapons.
The Interior Ministry did not say where the weapons came from or how long they had been stored there.
The ministry and the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence said similar discoveries were repeatedly made during inheritances and household clearances. Some items had only become illegal following later changes or stricter laws.
People who find or unlawfully possess firearms or explosives can, under certain conditions, hand them over to the responsible authorities without facing criminal penalties. The measure is intended to prevent dangerous items from being improperly disposed of or illegally passed on because of fear of the consequences.
Old explosives from past wartime activities can remain functional for decades, the Interior Ministry said, and pose a serious danger if handled improperly.