A 62-year-old Austrian woman was allegedly kidnapped, tied up and held captive in a modified van for three days during a short trip to Hungary with a 41-year-old Hungarian acquaintance.

Woman reportedly lured across the border by Hungarian acquaintance

The woman, from the Innviertel region of Upper Austria, reported the incident to police in Braunau on Saturday, claiming she had been assaulted, threatened with a firearm and detained in appalling conditions. The case was reported by Austrian media outlet Krone.

According to investigators, the pensioner had recently received a substantial sum of cash following the sale of a property. Her Hungarian acquaintance allegedly became aware of the money and persuaded her to travel to Hungary for a brief holiday.

Victim allegedly confined in van and threatened

The woman was reportedly taken to Győrújbarát, around 400 kilometres from her home, where the suspect allegedly knocked her down, restrained her and locked her in the cargo compartment of a specially prepared van in a wooded area.

She is said to have been held between 4 and 6 November, during which time the man allegedly demanded money and repeatedly threatened her with a firearm. The victim reportedly sustained significant injuries, including severe bruising, bleeding and marks from the restraints, and later required hospital treatment.

As the woman’s family repeatedly attempted to contact her, and amid increasing intimidation, the suspect allegedly abandoned his plan and drove her back to Austria. Before releasing her, he reportedly threatened to seriously harm her family if she reported the incident to police.

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Hungarian suspect arrested in Austria

Following the woman’s report, Austrian police launched an investigation and established the identity and whereabouts of the suspect through cross-border inquiries. The Ried Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered his arrest, which was carried out by the Cobra special operations unit at a residential property in Maria Schmolln, Upper Austria.

During questioning, the 41-year-old Hungarian reportedly made a comprehensive confession. Prosecutors confirmed that the woman had been held captive from 4 to 6 November. The modified van allegedly used in the incident was recovered in Hungary. The suspect was subsequently transferred to Ried Prison.

He is being investigated on suspicion of unlawful deprivation of liberty, aggravated coercion and grievous bodily harm. Austrian authorities said he had not previously been known to the police in the country.

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