The car, in which there were eight Syrians and four Turks, stopped after around 500 meters. Two suspected smugglers fled into a forest. A search with a helicopter and service dogs was unsuccessful. The police car was badly damaged and no one was injured, police said.
At around 8:00 a.m. shortly after the Nickelsdorf border crossing (Neusiedl am See district) in Burgenland, the driver evaded a check and drove on in the direction of Vienna. At the Bruckneudorf junction, the transport was noticed again, at Göttlesbrunn the officials tried to stop the car. The driver steered his car sideways against a police car, the police reported in a broadcast. The State Criminal Police Office of Lower Austria has taken over the investigation. The eight Syrian citizens applied for asylum. The ORF Lower Austria had previously reported on the incident.
800 euros for towing
According to the broadcast, in another case of smuggling, a 42-year-old, who is said to have carried out a transport from Slovakia to Austria, is in custody in the Korneuburg prison. The Syrian was arrested during an entry check in Hohenau ad March (Gänserndorf district) on Sunday morning. In the vehicle were four compatriots aged 18 to 27 who, according to their statements, paid 800 euros per person for the towing. They applied for asylum. The 42-year-old suspect did not confess.
“This case shows how important the controls are at the Slovakian border. The smuggler mafia is constantly changing their routes. We have to be faster than the criminals. We will continue the fight against the brutal smugglers,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP ) quoted. Controls at the border with Slovakia came into force on September 29th. The measure was recently extended until October 28.
Source: Nachrichten
