Man faces charges after parking dispute turns violent

A 25-year-old Serbian national faces charges after allegedly smashing a car window, threatening to kill a driver and grabbing him by the neck during a parking dispute in Helpfau-Uttendorf in Upper Austria’s Braunau district, ORF reported.

Police were called to the car park at about 8.25 p.m. on Saturday after a dispute involving several people. They found three Serbian nationals from Vienna, aged 25, 26 and 28, as well as another 25-year-old Serbian national from Braunau district.

A 32-year-old man from Braunau district arrived shortly afterwards with his car. Two girls aged 16 and 17 were also in the vehicle.

The 32-year-old told police he had been trying to park when a man gestured for him to leave. He gestured back and said he wanted to use the parking space. The situation then escalated, he said, with the 25-year-old running towards the car and punching through the driver’s side window. The man allegedly also threatened to kill him and grabbed him by the neck.

The 32-year-old suffered minor injuries. He said he put the car into reverse and drove away. The 25-year-old will be reported to the public prosecutor’s office on suspicion of property damage, making a dangerous threat and causing bodily harm.