An 18-year-old Hungarian man is suspected of killing a 29-year-old Austrian man in Lower Austria, with investigators examining the possibility that the attack was motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation.
The victim was found dead early on Thursday in a house in Langenzersdorf, north of Vienna. The Hungarian suspect was arrested at the scene and reportedly gave a full confession on Friday. According to Austrian newspaper Krone Zeitung’s report, the two men had met online and arranged to meet at a house in Langenzersdorf while its owners were away.
Police investigate possible hate crime
The Korneuburg Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that the case is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Spokesperson Gudrun Bischof told Austrian media that investigators believe the victim’s perceived sexual orientation may have been a motive for the killing.
The suspect reportedly lured the 29-year-old man to the house, which he was looking after in the absence of the owners. According to reports, the victim suffered severe injuries to his face and died at the scene.
Krone reported that the suspect practised taekwondo and allegedly used his martial arts skills during the crime. No weapon has been found, according to the report. Police were called to the property after an emergency alert. When officers arrived, the older man was lying on the floor with severe facial injuries and could no longer be saved.
The 18-year-old was arrested without resistance.
Links to ‘paedophile hunter’ groups
Austrian media have reported that the Hungarian suspect was allegedly associated with so-called “paedophile hunter” circles.
These groups claim to target paedophiles, but authorities have previously linked some of them to attacks on gay men based on the false equation of homosexuality with paedophilia.
According to reports, members of such groups have used social media to identify and lure men they believe to be gay before confronting, humiliating, assaulting or robbing them.
Austria has previously investigated similar attacks
The case comes amid wider scrutiny in Austria of groups accused of carrying out attacks under the guise of “paedophile hunting”.
A series of raids launched at the request of prosecutors in Graz last year across seven Austrian provinces resulted in numerous arrests. Those targeted included people suspected of hate crimes and individuals allegedly involved in attacks against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Investigators in those cases reportedly uncovered allegations of victims being robbed, humiliated and physically assaulted, in some cases seriously.
According to HVG, following the death in Langenzersdorf, Austrian LGBTQ+ rights organisation HOSI Wien, the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Greens have called for the country’s national action plan against hate crime to be fully implemented as soon as possible.
The case is being investigated as a suspected murder and possible hate crime.
