Vienna authorities seize nearly one tonne of pyrotechnics
Sunday 15th November 2026 on 13:45 in
Austria
Vienna authorities seized nearly one tonne of fireworks and other pyrotechnic items from a shop in a residential building in the Mariahilf district, ORF reported on Sunday.
About 800 kilograms had been stored in quantities exceeding legal limits. Some of the items were illegal category F4 pyrotechnics. The stock included fireworks batteries, firecrackers and rockets.
Two fire doors leading to rooms where the items were kept also failed to meet legal requirements. Authorities confiscated the pyrotechnics because storing such quantities in a residential building posed a significant danger. Vienna’s professional fire brigade then removed them securely.
The operation involved the city’s Group for Immediate Measures, police, fire prevention officials, the market authority and the responsible district office. ORF Vienna reported that the storage facility was believed to belong to costume shop Jux Witte. The operator cooperated with authorities.
The district office will open proceedings against the operator, and further reports will be filed under the Pyrotechnics Act. Walter Hillerer, head of the Group for Immediate Measures, said the find highlighted the importance of inspections and that pyrotechnics checks would remain a focus this year.