32-year-old man in custody after driving truck into church

The limitation period initially runs until July 24. The reason for the arrest is the risk of committing a crime, said spokeswoman Birgit Borns. The public prosecutor’s office is investigating serious coercion, serious damage to property and endangering physical safety.

Perpetrator was known to the authorities

The accused had already caused a police operation in 2022 in connection with a religious community facility. Erich Habitzl, spokesman for the Wiener Neustadt public prosecutor’s office, confirmed corresponding media reports that it was about coercion and damage to property. Apparently, the Romanian citizen is said to have attacked a person with a stick at the time.

On Monday, the 32-year-old caused immense damage to the Pentecostal Church with the twelve-ton vehicle. The accused is said to have driven backwards into the building in several attacks. The Romanian, who lives in Vienna, was subsequently arrested without resistance.

“God will strike you”

A priest and two other people were inside the church at the time of the attack, none of whom were injured. “We immediately thought it was an attack,” said Pastor Ruben Avram in interviews with ORF Lower Austria and the “Kurier” newspaper. The accused is not known to the Romanian-speaking Pentecostal Church, Avram stressed in an interview with Kathpress: “The man is neither a member of the congregation nor has he taken part in our congregational life.” He is an “outsider who is already known for these and similar crimes.” When he was arrested, the 32-year-old shouted “God will strike you,” said Avram.

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