Overview

• Austrian police arrested 15 suspects, including 12 men and 3 women, in a coordinated operation across seven states targeting a hate crime network.
• The suspects used fake social media profiles to lure at least 17 predominantly male homosexual victims to isolated areas, where they were assaulted, robbed, and humiliated.
• Evidence suggests the attacks were filmed and shared online, with victims falsely accused of being pedophiles to justify the violence.
• Weapons and Nazi memorabilia were discovered during house searches, raising concerns about the suspects' potential links to far-right extremism.
• Authorities believe the true number of victims may be higher and are urging others to come forward as investigations continue.