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Heroic police officer dies from his injuries

The Local Austria
The Local Austria - [email protected]
Heroic police officer dies from his injuries
Photo: Paul Gillingwater

A press spokesman for Vienna Police announced that the police officer who was shot by an armed robber on Saturday has died in hospital from his injuries on Tuesday evening.

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The officer, named as Daniel S., was one of three police officers who responded to a silent alarm during the armed robbery of a Billa supermarket in Vienna.

When the news was announced, Austrian chancellor Christian Kern issued the following statement:

"Police officers put their lives in danger for the good of our society on a daily basis. They have earned our full respect and acknowledgement. Today, we have been tragically made to accept this risk that they take for us."

"My deepest sympathies go out to the family, friends, colleagues of the police officer who succumbed to the injuries suffered during the practice of his duty at Saturday's supermarket robbery."

Robber killed

According to local witnesses, the event took place near the Hanusch hospital.  Two employees are believed to have been held at gunpoint in the supermarket after it was closed.

The dead robber has been identified as a Bosnian man (49), who is a suspect in at least two previous robberies.  He was armed with a pistol with a silencer, and was described by police spokesman Paul Eidenberger as "a professional."

Accomplice

On Tuesday, police arrested Wolfgang A. (63), who is believed to be the accomplice of the Bosnian robber.  He was described as a weapons collector, who had a variety of deadly weapons and munitions in his home.  The alleged accomplice is suspected of driving the getaway vehicle.

Reports suggest two police officers were shot, with one being seriously injured with a head shot, and the other with a wound on his hip. A third officer was lightly injured. 
 
The seriously wounded police officer was immediately taken to Vienna's general hospital by rescue helicopter for an emergency operation.
 
The Bosnian suspect is believed to have been shot and killed by the WEGA armed police unit, when they encountered him in a nearby stairwell.

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