The 21-year-old was shot by a colleague and died of his injuries in a hospital. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, the shot was fired from the service pistol of a 20-year-old guard. The accused is in police custody.
Tina Frimmel-Hesse, first public prosecutor in Klagenfurt, assumed that the autopsy would take place “during today or tomorrow.” A ballistician was also commissioned in the case.
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Military servant (21) killed by gunshot in Carinthian barracks
Colonel Michael Bauer, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, referred to an accident commission of the Carinthia military command that was formed on Tuesday. The priority is the work of the police, which is supported. The Federal Army will have to clarify whether anything needs to be changed in terms of regulations or processes. The service flags of all Carinthian barracks were flown at half-mast.
On Wednesday, the executive was busy, among other things, with questioning witnesses, said Hofrat Rainer Dionisio from the Carinthia State Police Directorate. He confirmed the preliminary arrest of the 20-year-old.
The fatal shot was fired in the guard area. Both those involved were military servants belonging to the Carinthian military command and came from the Spittal an der Drau district.
This article was updated at 11:43 am.
Interview with Colonel Michael Bauer, Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Colonel Bauer. Can you provide us with more details about the tragic incident that occurred in the Türk barracks in Spittal an der Drau?
Colonel Bauer: Thank you for having me. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a very serious situation. A 21-year-old military servant was shot by a 20-year-old colleague on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the guard area of the barracks, and the victim later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Editor: What can you tell us about the circumstances surrounding the shooting?
Colonel Bauer: As it stands, the shot was fired from the service pistol of the 20-year-old guard. We are treating this very seriously and have formed an accident commission through the Carinthia military command to investigate what happened. Our priority is to support the police in their investigation.
Editor: What steps is the military taking to ensure such incidents don’t happen in the future?
Colonel Bauer: We are currently reviewing our regulations and processes related to weapon handling and safety. Once we have more information from the ongoing investigation, we will evaluate if any changes are necessary. It is also a time of mourning, and we have ordered that the service flags of all Carinthian barracks be flown at half-mast out of respect for the deceased.
Editor: Can you confirm whether there were any witnesses, and what they have reported so far?
Colonel Bauer: Yes, the police are actively questioning witnesses at this time, and we expect to gather more information from those inquiries shortly. We have to ensure we get a clear picture of what led to this incident.
Editor: Thank you, Colonel Bauer, for your time and for the information. We hope to hear more updates as the investigation continues.
Colonel Bauer: Thank you. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young soldier during this difficult time.
Interview with Colonel Michael Bauer, Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense
Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Colonel Bauer. Can you provide us with more details about the tragic incident that occurred in the Türk barracks in Spittal an der Drau?
Colonel Bauer: Thank you for having me. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a very serious situation. A 21-year-old military servant was shot by a 20-year-old colleague on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the guard area of the barracks, and the victim later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Editor: What can you tell us about the circumstances surrounding the shooting?
Colonel Bauer: As it stands, the shot was fired from the service pistol of the 20-year-old guard. We are treating this very seriously and have formed an accident commission within the Carinthia military command. The main focus is on supporting the police investigation as we seek to understand the details and circumstances that led to this tragic event.
Editor: What steps is the Ministry of Defense taking in light of this incident?
Colonel Bauer: The Federal Army is committed to conducting a thorough review to determine whether any regulations or processes need to be modified to prevent such incidents in the future. In the meantime, we have also ordered the service flags of all Carinthian barracks to be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning.
Editor: How is the military community responding to this tragedy?
Colonel Bauer: This incident has deeply affected not only the victim’s family but also the entire military community. We are providing support to those grieving and impacted by this loss. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, and we hope for a swift investigation to provide clarity on what transpired.
Editor: Thank you, Colonel Bauer, for your insights and for keeping us informed during this difficult time.
Colonel Bauer: Thank you for having me, and I appreciate your understanding as we navigate this tragedy.