Police detain five in Vienna youth crime operation
Thursday 20th August 2026 on 12:00 in
Austria
Police detained five people during a targeted operation against youth crime at Meidling railway station and in Vienna’s Favoriten district on Wednesday, ORF reported. Officers conducted 195 identity checks.
One person was detained over a suspected criminal offence, while four were detained under provisions governing foreign nationals. Police also reported seven people for suspected offences under the criminal code, 10 under the Narcotic Substances Act and 19 for administrative violations.
During the checks, officers seized 79 grams of cannabis, two psychotropic substances and 18 substitution medicines.
Police units from four states joined operation
The operation involved officers from the Meidling city police command, Vienna’s rapid response unit, the Vienna State Criminal Police Office, the foreign police and detention division, the police dog unit and Vienna’s state traffic department.
A further 24 officers from Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Upper Austria reinforced the operation.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Vienna State Police President Gerhard Pürstl said targeted measures against youth crime were necessary. Karner said youth crime remained a concern and required consistent action, while Pürstl described it as a challenge in a large city such as Vienna that required a strong police presence in public spaces.