Attempted robbery in Salzburg: 16-year-old attacks teenagers!

Attempted robbery in Salzburg: 16-year-old attacks teenagers!

Salzburg, Österreich - in the city of Salzburg occurred on Tuesday, May 29, 2025, an attempted robbery between young people, such as Salzburg24 . A 16-year-old Romanian is suspected of having attacked a 17-year-old Austrian. The incident took place in the bright day when the alleged perpetrator grabbed his victim on his shoulders and pushed to the ground. Despite the violent attack, the victim refused to issue cash, and the attacker then fled from the crime scene.

youth crime: a growing problem

The increase in crime among young people is favored by several factors. Youth gangs fight in urban areas for supremacy in parks, while ethnically motivated conflicts between groups such as Syrians, Afghans and Chechens rise. This spiral of violence is often fueled by social media and chat groups that facilitate communication and planning of such activities.

In Vienna, around 500 students are suspended every year due to violent behavior, with the tendency to be increasing. Many of these young people have no regulated daily routine and no longer return to school after their suspension. This shows how urgently measures for prevention and integration are necessary. At the same time, robberies are becoming increasingly common in Austria and are often directed against defenseless victims.

A worrying fact is that under 14-year-olds are increasingly being used for criminal activities, for example for car break-ins or drug transport. Measures such as the weapons ban on Reumannplatz in Vienna, which has been in force since March 2024, have reduced the number of knife attacks in this region. The police are increasingly checking passers -by and vehicles in this zone.

A look across the borders: Youth crime in Germany

This topic is not the only Austrian phenomenon. Such developments can also be observed in Germany. In 2024, youth crime there reached a high with around 13,800 cases, which is more than twice as many as in 2016. Young people between the ages of 14 and 17 and adolescents between the ages of 18 and 20 are particularly affected. The studies show that almost three quarters of the young suspects are male and that a high percentage of their actions is due to social and psychological stress.

It is discussed how effective harder punishments and the reduction in punishment as a measure to combat crime are. However, experts are calling for an increased preventive approach, especially through measures in the field of child and youth welfare to counteract potentially criminal résumés.