Murder threats and Nazi salutes at brawl between Austrian and Dutch men in Tyrol bar

Two people were injured in a brawl that broke out between a group of Dutch men and another group of Austrian at a bar in a popular ski destination in Austria. It was not immediately clear what sparked the incident at the après-ski bar in St. Anton am Arlberg on Boxing Day, but an early report from local police indicated at least two Austrian men were suspected of violent crimes, and others in their group made threats and chanted Nazi phrases during the altercation.

Tensions grew between the two groups at about 8:30 p.m. on the bar's terrace, police in Tyrol said in a statement. A security guard stepped in to try to calm the situation, when fighting broke out between a Dutch man and an Austrian man. The guard again stepped in, and was nearly struck with a glass bottle that was thrown towards him.

A 20-year-old Austrian man allegedly thew another glass bottle at the German security guard, barely missing him. "The German man then attempted to restrain the Austrian man, who violently and physically attacked him, which caused both to fall over," police said.

"The Austrian man was left unconscious. Both men sustained injuries of undetermined severity, and the Austrian man was transported by ambulance to the district hospital in Zams," a municipality in the Landeck District of Tyrol.

While the one Austrian man lay unconscious, his 21-year-old friend "verbally abused those present with Nazi slogans and also threatened to kill another security guard," police said. Both security guards are German men and 20 years of age, police said.

An investigation is ongoing by police based at St. Anton am Arlberg. "Upon the investigation's completion, charges will be filed against several individuals with the Innsbruck public prosecutor's office."

It was not known on Monday whether suspects from the Netherlands will be among those charged.