Fraud charges for fallen tycoon Rene Benko, Grossglockner urges cyclists to avoid peak hours, Vienna FPÖ links up with Berlin AfD—and more stories from Austria on Wednesday.
Fallen Austrian tycoon Rene Benko charged with fraud over Signa collapse
Austrian property magnate Rene Benko has been formally charged with fraud in connection to the collapse of his Signa real estate empire, AFP reported.
Prosecutors accuse the 48-year-old of concealing €660,000 in assets to the detriment of creditors after Signa’s 2023 bankruptcy—the largest insolvency in Austrian history.
Benko, who remains in custody after his arrest in January, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. More than a dozen suspects are under investigation, with damages estimated at €300 million. Signa’s portfolio once included the Chrysler Building in New York and several major European department stores.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road asks cyclists to ride only at off-peak times
Cyclists are being urged to avoid peak hours on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road due to safety concerns, Der Standard reported.
Road operator Hochalpenstraßen AG launched a campaign asking cyclists to ride between 6am and 7am or after 3pm to reduce the risk of accidents.
E-bike use has increased sharply in recent years, with bicycle-related accidents rising from under 10 percent of all accidents to 33 percent on the road. The Greens and cycling groups criticised the campaign, calling instead for car-free days to protect cyclists and reduce traffic.
Vienna FPÖ signs cooperation pact with Berlin AfD despite extremism concerns
Vienna’s Freedom Party (FPÖ) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Berlin branch of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), Der Standard reported.
The deal involves joint events and shared strategies on migration, security, and education.
The German domestic intelligence service classifies the AfD as a suspected far-right extremist group, but Vienna FPÖ leader Dominik Nepp called the AfD a “reliable partner to preserve our identity.” The parties also plan to form a broader European network of right-wing urban policy alliances.
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16-year-old sentenced over Vienna Pride terror discussions; brothers’ trial continues
A 16-year-old Austrian has been sentenced to six months’ conditional imprisonment for involvement in Telegram chats about possible attacks on Vienna’s 2023 Rainbow Parade, ORF Lower Austria reported.
The boy confessed to supporting a terrorist association but denied actively planning an attack. He must remain in a deradicalisation programme.
Two co-defendants, brothers aged 19 and 22, deny involvement and will face further hearings on August 5th. Prosecutors said the group shared pro-Islamic State content and discussed obtaining weapons, but no concrete plot was imminent at the time of arrest.
Nazi gesture case at Wels city council parties dropped by prosecutors
Prosecutors in Wels have dropped all proceedings in a case involving city employees seen making Nazi gestures at municipal parties, ORF Upper Austria reported.
Officials said a Hitler moustache costume and other gestures were intended as jokes among intoxicated participants, not Nazi glorification.
The Mauthausen Committee Austria and local anti-fascist groups condemned the decision, calling it a “mockery of Austria’s anti-fascist mandate.” Prosecutors said they reviewed live photo sequences showing the gestures were taken out of context.
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Austria expands free vaccination programme for vulnerable groups
Austria will expand its public vaccination programme to include free pneumococcus and shingles vaccines for at-risk groups, Kurier reported.
The HPV catch-up campaign for people up to age 30 will also be extended until mid-2026.
Health Minister Korinna Schumann said the move aims to reduce healthcare inequality, emphasising that “health should not be a privilege.” The new programme is co-funded by the federal government, social insurance, and the provinces.
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