Another Success Against ATM Robber Gang: Seven Arrests

The domestic executive has achieved another blow against internationally operating ATM bombers: In November and on Tuesday, seven more suspects were arrested in the Netherlands and Malta, who were active in Austria, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) announced on Wednesday. Already in August, they were able to report 22 arrests.

Professional perpetrator groups active since the end of 2024

Since the end of 2024, internationally operating groups have been active in Austria. They are responsible for a series of ATM bombings in Austria. The perpetrators travel specifically, proceed highly professionally and in a divided manner - with a significant risk potential for uninvolved parties. The damage amounts to millions, especially due to the devastating detonations, said BK spokesperson Heinz Holub-Friedreich to the APA.

In February 2025, the Working Group ATM (AG Bankomat) was established in the Federal Criminal Police Office to support the state criminal offices. Thus, the vast majority of the crimes committed in 2025 could be attributed to Dutch perpetrator groups.

A total of 48 accused or suspects have been identified. Meanwhile, EU arrest warrants and search orders from the public prosecutor's offices in Vienna and Wels are in place. With the completion of the current measures, the number of arrests this year has increased to 29.

Access in two phases

The current operation was carried out in two directly coordinated phases: On November 12, attempts were made to execute two arrest warrants and two search warrants in the Netherlands. A 36-year-old Dutchman was arrested, a second suspect was not found and was put on the wanted list. 6,800 euros in cash, gold bars worth about 22,000 euros, mobile phones, storage media, and small amounts of narcotics were seized.

The second phase on December 2 involved a cross-border, simultaneous intervention. In the Netherlands, seven arrest warrants and seven search warrants were executed at several locations in three provinces. Five Dutch nationals aged between 19 and 29 were caught. Two suspects could not be found and were put on the wanted list. Among other things, electronic devices and documents with a direct connection to Austria were seized, as well as pyrotechnic items such as flashbangs.

29-Year-Old Arrested in Malta

In parallel, investigations by the AG Bankomat determined the whereabouts of a 29-year-old North Macedonian citizen in Malta. Through the European network ENFAST, an arrest warrant and a search warrant from the Vienna Public Prosecutor's Office were executed, and the suspect was caught. The extradition of the suspects has already been requested, said Holub.

"We will continue to fight this form of crime with full determination," promised the Director of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Andreas Holzer. The successes are based on the close cooperation between the Federal Criminal Police Office, the state criminal police offices, and the public prosecutor's offices. The Dutch security authorities and the European target search network ENFAST were also praised.

"This is an important and hard blow against organized crime," emphasized Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). Justice Minister Anna Sporrer (SPÖ): "The AG Bankomat is a prime example of successful law enforcement."

(APA/Red)

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