New Year’s Eve in Salzburg Marked by Gunfire, Threats, and Arrests
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A heightened police presence in Salzburg, Austria, on New Year’s Eve resulted in multiple arrests and investigations following incidents involving illegal fireworks, gunfire, threats, and an attempted robbery. The events underscore ongoing challenges related to public safety and the enforcement of regulations during holiday celebrations.
Most police interventions on January 1st, 2026, centered around the unauthorized use of pyrotechnics, especially by young people. According to reports, a significant number of individuals, including minors, were found to be in possession of illegal fireworks, leading to numerous citations under the Pyrotechnics Act and the confiscation of materials.
Shots Fired in Salzburg on New Year’s Eve
The night was marred by at least two separate incidents involving gunfire. Shortly before 10 p.m., two Austrian men, aged 18 and 19, discharged firearms in a garden within the city of Salzburg. Law enforcement officials discovered that one of the individuals, the 19-year-old, was already under a court-ordered weapons ban. Both weapons were seized,and the men face legal repercussions.
Shortly after midnight, a 20-year-old Austrian man fired a blank pistol on the right bank of the Salzach river. Police promptly confiscated the weapon and filed a complaint against the individual, also imposing a temporary prohibition on future weapons ownership.
Threats and Attempted Robbery Add to New Year’s Concerns
Beyond the incidents involving firearms, authorities responded to reports of perilous threats and an attempted robbery. A 33-year-old Afghan citizen was arrested in Salzburg after allegedly threatening another individual. He is currently being held at a police detention center while investigators continue to piece together the details of the incident.
In a more serious event,an attempted robbery occurred in a downtown Salzburg nightclub in the early hours of January 1st.A 27-year-old Afghan man allegedly threatened his former employer with a knife, demanding a significant sum of money. When a bystander attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation,they too were threatened. The bystander then deployed pepper spray in self-defense, resulting in minor injuries to the suspect, who was subsequently arrested and taken into police custody. Further inquiry is underway.
These incidents highlight the complexities faced by law enforcement during large public gatherings and the need for continued vigilance in maintaining public safety.
