A heavily intoxicated tourist from Switzerland caused a police response late in the evening of December 16 at Braunau’s town square. The 31-year-old repeatedly made prohibited gestures and shouted National Socialist slogans as well as antisemitic remarks.
At around 11:15 p.m., a local resident contacted the police after the man drew attention by loudly shouting. A patrol located the Swiss national shortly afterward in the town square and detained him. During the incident, the man also damaged Christmas decorations on a tree belonging to a café.
Banned Ring Seized
During a search, officers seized an honorary ring of the Waffen-SS that the man had been wearing. The 31-year-old admitted to the acts. He stated that he had been heavily intoxicated and could only partially remember the events.
As an explanation, he said that a film he had watched earlier that day about the Nazi era had emotionally affected him. He claimed the ring was worn as a keepsake in memory of his grandfather. After consultation with the public prosecutor’s office in Ried im Innkreis, the man was reported while at liberty.
