Burned car with body of 21-year-old Ukrainian found in Vienna
Photo: Austrian police (facebook.com/innenministerium2)
A burned-out car with the body of a young man in the back seat was found in Vienna. Police are investigating the circumstances of the killing and are considering the possibility of a violent death, according to the Austrian outlet Krone.at.
Discovery of vehicle and first response
During the night of 27 November in the Donaustadt district, passersby noticed a burning Mercedes. Fire crews and police arrived at the scene at around 00:30 AM local time, but by that time, the vehicle had already been completely engulfed by flames.
A 21-year-old man was found dead in the back seat. The autopsy revealed injuries caused by blunt objects, although the likely cause of death was suffocation or heat stroke.
Details about victim
According to police, the identity of the victim has been established, a 21-year-old Ukrainian citizen.
Austrian media report that shortly before the tragedy, a close family friend living abroad had filed a missing person report. Not long after, relatives received confirmation of the young man’s death. Police emphasized that "the autopsy showed the victim died a violent death."
Possible motives and traces of crime
Marks on the body indicate trauma from a blunt object, but investigators believe the man most likely died from suffocation or heat exposure.
The car was deliberately set on fire: traces of an accelerant were found, indicating arson. The victim may have already been assaulted and placed inside the vehicle in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The motive and identity of the perpetrator remain unknown as the investigation continues.
Authorities remind the public that messages are circulating on social media about an unidentified man allegedly attacking women in the Obolon district of Kyiv, striking them on the head with a hammer. According to eyewitness accounts, 11 people have already been injured and are currently in hospital. Kyiv police are now verifying the accuracy of this information and assessing the threat in the affected area.
In the United Kingdom, police have detained two men on suspicion of a stabbing attack on a passenger train travelling from Doncaster to London. Both remain in custody, and law enforcement officials note that the incident is not being treated as a terrorist act.
