Juvenile crime among Syrian youths in Austria is rising at a dramatic pace, according to new figures released by the Ministry of the Interior.

In 2024 alone, authorities recorded around 1,000 reports against Syrian suspects aged 10 to 14 — a huge increase from just 25 such reports in 2015.

Overall, the number of criminal reports against minors in this age group has more than doubled in less than a decade, from about 5,160 in 2015 to over 12,000 last year, setting a new record, but Syrian nationals in particular are disproportionately represented.

Vienna is attempting to combat the rise. The Austrian government initially suspended family reunification rules for Syria from July to September 2025, and has sought to introduce an “integration barometer” to determine immigration quotas. It is also looking to mirror Germany’s weapon-free zones, which give police broader powers to conduct checks, despite Germany’s federal police union dismissing the measure as ineffective.

Austrian police will also introduce a mandatory educational course for first-time offenders, with fines of several thousand euros for those who fail to attend with their parents.

For repeat juvenile offenders, police, youth welfare services, schools, and the judiciary will be required by law to hold joint case conferences. The government also plans to establish secure, prison-like accommodation for the most troubled young offenders. “The Ministry of Justice is developing a legal basis for this,” the ministry said, as cited by Exxpress, adding that the goal is to provide young people with “a structured daily routine with clear consequences.”

The liberal party NEOS has surprisingly called for even tougher interventions. “Anyone who rapes or robs at 13 is old enough to face the consequences,” said NEOS parliamentary group leader Yannick Shetty, who demanded mandatory anti-violence camps for juvenile offenders. These programs, he said, should be court-ordered and strictly structured, “not feel-good workshops in a circle of armchairs.” Shetty warned that “the age at which children and adolescents become violent continues to decline.”

Recent cases in Austria have highlighted the growing problem of violent and sexual crimes committed by Syrian youths. Earlier this month, a 15-year-old Syrian living in Lower Austria was convicted of robbery, assault, and theft after shoving another teenager onto train tracks in Korneuburg on April 27. The victim narrowly escaped serious injury, suffering only cuts and bruises, but the attacker walked free from court despite the convictions.

In another high-profile case from January 2025, a 17-year-old Syrian was acquitted of raping a 12-year-old girl after the court ruled there was insufficient evidence that the schoolgirl had not consented, sparking outrage among the public and politicians alike. The defendant left €100 with the victim’s legal representative as a “gesture of goodwill” following the verdict.

Austria’s experience mirrors trends seen in neighboring Germany, where Syrians are also significantly overrepresented in crime statistics. A series of recent cases has drawn national attention, including the rape of a 19-year-old Czech tourist in Dresden by two 15-year-old Syrians, and a Syrian father in Cuxhaven allegedly ordering his son to kill his sister over “honor.”

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