Vienna Police: No Evidence Grenade Was Thrown in Bulgarian Car

Investigators examine the crime scene in Ottakring, Vienna, photo blick.ch

Vienna police spokesman Thomas Keiblinger has said the Austrian authorities "have no indications that a grenade was thrown into the car" with Bulgarian license plates.

This was reported by local media, including the Austria Press Agency.

The SUV BMW X5 with Bulgarian license plates was blown up at 2:45 am Saturday in Vienna's Ottakring district. Police found the car after a passerby alerted of hearing an explosion.

Two men inside the vehicle died. Police found one of them already dead and the other passed away in the ambulance.

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry informed in a media statement that the two victims are Austrian citizens. They are around the age of 50, but their identities are yet unknown.

According to Keiblinger, both victims showed typical blast injuries.

The automobile is owned by a Bulgarian leasing company, and was used by a Bulgarian citizen.

The Ministry notes that according to preliminary information of Austrian police, the explosion was caused by an "incident with a hand grenade."

"We have no evidence that the grenade was thrown from the outside in the car," Keiblinger said. No other weapons were found.

There is no established connection so far between the Bulgarian, who leased the BMW, and the Austrians, who were killed in the blast. The Bulgarian was not inside the automobile at the time.

The Bulgarian Embassy in Vienna is in constant contact with local authorities and the investigation in the case is ongoing.

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