View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Photographers attack at Fritzl hospital

Security has been stepped up at the hospital where the Fritzl incest family are staying in the Austrian town of Amstetten after a security guard was beaten with a bat by a photographer who he had tried to detain.

Hospital management have ordered security to patrol in twos as paparazzi make ever-bolder attempts to get the first picture of the Amstetten victims.

The 30-year-old security guard, who had spotted the photographer on the clinic premises, had to be admitted to the hospital he was guarding after being beaten by the photographer – who managed to run off.

The incident occurred only a couple of days after another security guard needed treatment following a fall from a balcony at the hospital as he grappled with a photographer who was trying to gain access to the family.

Last week saw hospital management complain that 22 paparazzi had to be forced to leave the clinic after sneaking in to try and get exclusive pictures of the tragic Fritzls.

Some of the photographers had resorted to dressing up as policemen and cleaners and another had made a ‘nest’ for himself in the grounds, which he had filled with food for a long wait should the rare opportunity to take a picture come along.

Head of security at the hospital, Richard Riegler, said of the photographers: “They dig holes in the ground, put aluminium foil over themselves to fool the heat sensitive cameras, and cover themselves with camouflage blankets.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

He added: “Until now, we’ve caught all of them. But I don’t know how long this will last.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network