the essential
Searches continue in Europe to find Roland Drexler, the alleged perpetrator of a double homicide committed this Monday, October 28, 2024 in Austria. Portrait of this 56-year-old man, described as “very dangerous” by the police.
Since Monday, October 28, Roland Drexler has been the most wanted man in Austria and part of Europe. Suspected of having committed a double homicide in Mühlviertel, in northern Austria, his hunt continues throughout the country as well as in Germany and the Czech Republic. Some 250 men are mobilized to find him.
A “funny” and angry hunter
Aged 56, Roland Drexlel is manager of a company in Mühlviertel, passionate about hunting and dogs. A neighbor who has known the suspect since school told oe24.TV: “It would never have occurred to me that he would do something like that. He is a sociable and funny person.” Diepresse, for its part, reports the comments of other residents who describe the alleged killer as “problematic and angry”. They indicate that he had problems with hunters.
Revenge after a hunting dispute
Local authorities said a dispute over hunting laws could be behind the tragedy. The two murdered people – the mayor of the town of Kirchberg ob der Donau and a former hunting chief and police officer – had in fact reported Drexler to the district administration for “illegal feeding of bait”. What the suspect would not have accepted. “I won't stand for this. If they take my hunting license, I will take care of everyone who is responsible for it,” he reportedly declared publicly, according to information from Mein Bezirks.
A clean criminal record
The alleged perpetrator of the double murder is said to be in possession of two weapons, according to police. “He is expected to travel in a silver VW Cadillac with license plate RO-231EL,” authorities said. According to prosecutor Ulrike Breiteneder, the suspect has neither a complaint against him nor a criminal record.
A “very dangerous” suspect
Authorities call suspected killer “very dangerous.” This is why fifty people likely to be targeted were placed under judicial protection. These are relatives of the victims or who had disagreements with the suspect.
The police have launched a call for witnesses. “There is a lot of information. But so far, they have all turned out to be false,” said a spokesperson for the Upper Austrian police, relayed by Diepresse. “Witnesses who think they have seen Roland Dexler should absolutely call the emergency number and not make contact with him,” warn the authorities.
