Fifteen arrested for LGBTQ hate crimes in Austria

Austrian police arrested 15 people linked to a series of hate attacks against LGBTQ individuals. The group includes 12 men and three women. They are accused of using fake dating profiles to lure victims to remote areas where attacks occurred. Investigators reported that at least 17 people fell victim to these traps. Once lured to isolated locations, they were assaulted by masked attackers. The assaults were filmed and shared in online groups. Officials emphasized that none of the victims are pedophiles, despite false accusations made by the suspects. The suspects range in age from 14 to 26. They include 11 Austrians, along with one individual each from Germany, Croatia, Romania, and Slovakia. Authorities believe the actual number of victims could be higher than reported. During police raids on Friday, officers searched 23 locations across seven provinces. They recovered weapons and Nazi memorabilia. More than 400 police officers and investigators were involved in these operations.