Police arrest man accused of harassing women on Vienna public transport

Vienna police arrested a 35-year-old man in Favoriten on Tuesday who is suspected of harassing five women since June and robbing one of them, ORF reported. He allegedly targeted women mainly around Vienna Central Station and on the U1 underground line.

The man allegedly asked passers-by for money. When they refused, he reportedly became aggressive and sexually harassed them. Police said the Nigerian national appeared psychologically disturbed when he was arrested.

Police from the Vienna rapid-response unit detained him on Gertrude-Fröhlich-Sandner-Straße after the State Criminal Police Office’s southern branch had been searching for him.

On June 24, he allegedly knocked a mobile phone from a woman’s hand and took it. On July 3, he reportedly pushed a woman against a construction fence, spat in her face and threatened to kill her. On the same day, he allegedly groped three other women at Central Station and Keplerplatz U1 station. Police said he asked each woman for money beforehand.

After learning that the suspect was mainly staying around Central Station, officers began specifically looking for him there. They recognised him on Gertrude-Fröhlich-Sandner-Straße and arrested him. He remains in custody, and police have yet to question him.