Skip to main content

Ukrainian Official's Son Tortured, Burned Alive in Vienna in Cryptocurrency Extortion Case

A 21-year-old Ukrainian student, the son of a deputy mayor, has been found burned to death in Vienna in a brutal murder that Austrian police believe was motivated by the extortion of a large sum of cryptocurrency.

A brutal murder in Vienna has shocked Austria and Ukraine, as a young student was tortured and set on fire in what authorities allege was an extortion plot targeting his cryptocurrency holdings.

The victim, Danilo Kuzmin, 21, was the son of Sergey Kuzmin, the deputy mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine. He had been living in Vienna since fleeing the Russian invasion. His charred remains were discovered last Wednesday in the back seat of his father's burned-out Mercedes, which had been abandoned under a bridge.

An autopsy revealed that before being set alight, Kuzmin suffered severe blunt force trauma, including head injuries and broken teeth. He ultimately died from suffocation or heat shock shortly after the fire started. A melted petrol canister found in the car confirmed the fire was deliberate arson.

Viennese police believe Kuzmin was lured to a meeting in an underground hotel garage, where he was beaten, forced into the car, and driven to the murder site. Investigators have identified a "large" outgoing transfer from his cryptocurrency wallet around the time of his death, though the exact amount has not been disclosed.

Two suspects, a 19-year-old fellow student and a 45-year-old man, both Ukrainian nationals, fled to Ukraine the morning after the murder. They were quickly arrested by Ukrainian police on an international warrant. Austria has agreed to let Ukraine prosecute the case, with Viennese authorities continuing to assist the investigation.

CCTV footage reportedly shows the 19-year-old suspect purchasing a petrol canister in Vienna prior to the attack. Both suspects remain in custody, and it is not yet known if they admit to involvement in the killing.

The case echoes other high-profile, violent crimes linked to cryptocurrency theft, underscoring the lethal risks associated with digital asset ownership and the extreme measures criminals will take to access them.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PERSONALITY: Profile of a Performer

  His smile is calm, his overall demeanor unassuming. But make no mistake; Akinwunmi Ambode is no push over. He is a man of high intellectual character. Starting his career at a very young age, Ambode rose to the very pinnacle of the Civil Service, by dint of hard work, focus and altruism. Above all, he always has his head clear, his goals and perspectives well conceived from the start. He doesn’t mince words. He neither gives vain flattery nor expects to receive it, as those who have come to know him will attest to. Read more, after the cut...
1 comment
Read more

Sheikh Gumi Alleges Foreign Powers are Financing Terrorists in Nigeria

Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has accused unnamed foreign nations of supporting terrorist groups in Nigeria, citing a sudden reversal of security gains in recent months as evidence of external interference. In a significant and provocative claim, Nigerian Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has alleged that international actors are providing backing to terrorists operating within the country. During an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Sheikh Gumi pointed to deteriorating security in areas that had shown marked improvement. He specifically highlighted the Abuja-Kaduna highway, which had become safer for travelers, and the farmlands around Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, where farmers had cautiously returned to their fields after years of abandonment. "The situation on the ground contradicts earlier signs of improvement," Gumi stated, arguing that the recent surge in attacks suggests renewed support for armed groups. "This sudden rever...
Post a Comment
Read more

DSS Arrests Medical Doctor Accused of Supplying Drugs to Kwara Kidnapping Syndicate

Intelligence-led operation in Jebba uncovers healthcare professional allegedly aiding criminal networks. In a significant breakthrough, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended a licensed medical doctor for his alleged role in supporting kidnapping gangs terrorizing parts of Kwara State. The arrest followed a targeted interception in the Jebba area, based on precise intelligence regarding the movement of supplies to criminal elements. According to security officials, the doctor was caught transporting medical provisions from Sokoto State intended for kidnappers operating within Kwara. This development suggests that recent security operations have been effective, leaving some gang members wounded and in urgent need of care. “These criminal networks are becoming increasingly desperate for medical assistance following sustained engagements with security forces,” a DSS official stated. The situation has prompted a security advisory for health fac...
Post a Comment
Read more