The investigations against 50 suspects have been discontinued, the public prosecutor informed at a press conference on Friday.
In total, there are eight charges on suspicion of serious communal violence and attempted serious bodily harm. According to public prosecutor Ulrike Breiteneder, five suspects between the ages of 15 and 21 are in custody, while the three currently charged are at large. These previously blameless teenagers admitted to having been in downtown Linz during the riots, but they only described themselves as “passive observers”.
One of the prisoners, a 21-year-old Syrian, will appear in court on March 2nd. No trial dates have yet been announced for the other detainees. With the “fresh charges” the two-week objection period is still running, Breitender gave an overview. She assumes that “that was it” and does not expect any further charges.
“No contribution to the crime could be proven” for 50 of the accused, which is why no further investigations are being carried out against them. Rather, these people had made a “significant contribution to the investigation,” said the spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office.
A total of 129 people were reported on Halloween night. Proceedings to have their protection status revoked were initiated against 46 people.
