Police launch manhunt after Freistadt gun shop burglary

A large-scale manhunt began in the Mühlviertel on Monday after four suspects allegedly stole numerous firearms from a gun shop in Freistadt, ORF Upper Austria reported. Police said most of the weapons have since been recovered. The Cobra special unit is also involved.

Police received the alarm at about 4.40am. Surveillance footage reportedly showed four people entering the shop and taking firearms. The suspects had fled by the time the first officers arrived.

Heavily armed police officers wearing protective equipment were deployed at roads and junctions across the Mühlviertel, as well as at entrances to Linz.

Police said the suspects had either discarded or lost most of the weapons while fleeing. Several firearms were reportedly found near the crime scene, according to information published by the Kronen Zeitung and confirmed by police.

The total number of stolen weapons remains unclear. An inventory at the shop is expected to establish which firearms are still missing and whether the suspects may still be carrying any of them.

The four suspects remained at large. Police provided no further details about them or any vehicles they may have used to escape.