AN 83-year-old woman is in a critical condition after an altercation in Salzburg on Tuesday night involving three men reported to be Irish football fans.
The incident took place while Irish fans were in the Austrian city for last night’s match between Bohemians and Red Bull Salzburg.
Shortly after 10pm, an eye witness reported seeing an Irish fan trying to steal a bicycle outside a city centre pub. A second passer-by who stopped the man from taking the bike was reportedly attacked by two of the man’s friends. Police say the three men, aged between 20 and 30, fled the scene – two on foot and one cycling the stolen bike.
A short time later, a pursuing police officer found the 83- year-old tourist, visiting from Bavaria with her husband, lying unconscious on the street in a pool of blood.
She was rushed to hospital where she was diagnosed with severe brain trauma. A police spokesman yesterday said the woman was “slowly waking up” but was still in a critical condition.
Later on Tuesday evening police raided a bar, arrested one man and questioned two others. All were Irish, a spokesman said. It emerged during questioning that they had nothing to do with the incident and all were released.
Austrian media have claimed the suspects are Irish soccer fans but police are continuing their search.