Discovered: Alleged money laundering network dismantled in Austria - Explosion suspected at Austrian ATM machine
In a significant development, four suspected members of an ATM explosion gang have been arrested in Austria, following a series of incidents in Germany and Austria. The arrests were made last week by Austrian special forces in Hofkirchen, district of Linz, after an explosion occurred in the same area.
The investigation, led by the public prosecutor's office in Düsseldorf, began with the explosion of an ATM in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, in March 2024. The series of explosions, which are believed to be the work of this gang, have also been reported in Medebach, Hesse, and two locations in Austria.
The arrested individuals, who hail from Germany and the Netherlands, include a 19-year-old from Bochum, a 25-year-old Dutch woman, and two Dutch nationals, aged 28 and 32. The 19-year-old from Bochum has not been publicly named.
The suspects are believed to have been tracked by North Rhine-Westphalian investigators for months, and evidence was secured during searches in Bochum and the Netherlands. The operation received support from Europol.
The investigation was conducted in collaboration with Dutch and Austrian authorities. Court issued arrest warrants for all four suspects, and they are now facing charges in connection with the explosions.
The arrests mark a significant step forward in the investigation, as the suspects are believed to be responsible for a series of ATM explosions in Germany and Austria. The police and public prosecutor's office in Düsseldorf reported the series of explosions and expressed their satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the operation.
