Dutch man arrested in Vienna after high-speed chase; Faces 12-year sentence in NL

Authorities in Vienna have detained a 23-year-old Dutch national who was the subject of a European arrest warrant. The man was being sought in connection with kidnapping, hostage-taking, and robbery, and faces a remaining prison sentence of 12 years in the Netherlands.

During a traffic stop overnight from Monday to Tuesday, another suspect initially attempted to flee, accelerating to speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour and running multiple red lights, Vienna police said.

After a pursuit lasting approximately six kilometers, that suspect tried to evade the police by handing control of the car to his girlfriend, one of the passengers, before jumping out and fleeing on foot, but he was soon arrested.

The 23-year-old Dutch national with the European arrest warrant was later arrested after fleeing the vehicle on foot, before the woman, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was arrested behind the wheel.

Police said the first suspect was intoxicated and also driving without a valid license. Authorities confirmed that the man with the European arrest warrant still has an outstanding prison sentence. He has since been taken to a correctional facility, and it remains unclear whether he will be handed over to the Netherlands.

The decision to extradite the man to the Netherlands will follow Austrian European Arrest Warrant procedures, where a judge determines if the legal requirements for transfer are fulfilled. The process may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.