Armed U.S. soldiers en route to Ukraine stopped in Austria

Armed U.S. soldiers en route to Ukraine stopped in Austria

The police had to intervene to "disarm" the U.S. unit, while the state prosecutor's office was ordered to launch investigative procedures over a violation of Austria's law on war materials.

"There was a problem with the next flight after their scheduled stopover at the Vienna airport, forcing the soldiers to change their tickets and for that reason leave the transit area," explained Colonel Michael Bauer, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Austria.

M16 rifles and pistols were found when the security checked their luggage.

This discovery caused a stir at the airport because the weapons were not reported. The arms were confiscated and the soldiers brought in for questioning.

The daily added that the U.S. embassy was immediately contacted, as was the Service for Protection of Austria's Constitutionality.

"Ministries of defense and foreign affairs may, in special cases, allow foreign soldiers to stay or transit, for example for peacekeeping missions, exercises, and the like. The Americans did not apply for such a permit," said Bauer.

The report added that the issuing of these permits is becoming more frequent in Austria as a transit country for foreign soldiers headed to peacekeeping missions or exercises in third countries.

Bauer pointed out that "a great many" such permits are being issued every month.

The U.S. embassy's attempt to obtain the permit after the fact was unsuccessful for legal reasons.

Instead of traveling to Ukraine, the American soldiers returned to Washington, "and took their weapons with them," the Vienna newspaper said.