ATM Explosive attack criminals disrupted by international Police operation

During an action day on 19 August 2025, four individuals believed to be responsible for cash machine (ATM) explosive attacks in Austria were arrested.  To make this happen Austrian, Dutch and German law enforcement authorities worked together, in coordination with Europol.  Raids were performed simultaneously in all three countries, with 12 premises searched in the Netherlands and Germany (garages and the suspects’ homes).  In total, the action day led to the following results:

• Four arrests in Austria – two of the people arrested were suspected of having blown up ATMs with solid explosives, while the other two people were suspected of aiding them.
• Two vehicles, a high-powered getaway car of German make and a scooter, were seized in Austria along with two explosive devices, mobile phones and further evidence.
• Mobile phones and further evidence were seized in Germany and several alleged facilitators were identified.
• Two cars used for logistics were seized in the Netherlands along with ammunition, €16,500 in cash, GPS trackers, and further evidence.

After a series of ATM attacks in Austria earlier this year Austrian investigators, with the support of Europol, collaborated with their colleagues in Germany and the Netherlands to close in on the suspected robbers.  Intense investigative efforts revealed that the main suspects were Dutch nationals from the Brabant area, who were well organised and had ties to other criminal groups active in Austria earlier this year.  The investigation showed that some of the suspects were present in Austria weeks before the robberies, scoping out potential attack locations.

Investigators were also able to determine that the latest ATM attack by the highly sophisticated group was carried out with the help of a German national, who allegedly brought in facilitators for renting cars and other logistical support.  It is believed that the cross-border collaboration between Dutch and German suspects was led by the Dutch suspects.

ATM explosive attacks

The use of explosives to blow open ATMs creates significant damage to equipment and buildings in the vicinity.  As ATMs are often located in residential areas, these attacks can cause serious harm to buildings and their residents.  Typically the attacks take place at night.  After attacks the criminals use high-powered vehicles to flee the scene at high speed. This type of attack, exacerbated by the extreme risks taken by the perpetrators both at the crime scene and during the escape, makes their takedown a priority for law enforcement.

In recent years ATM explosive attacks have spread across Europe with several  countries now affected.  Due to the actions taken by law enforcement and ATM deployers to mitigate the risk of such attacks, the highly specialised criminal groups are forced to travel long distances to perform attacks on easier targets.  Some proven remedies include carefully considered ATM locations, restricting access to indoor machines at night, as well as elevated break-in technology, glue or dye packs in cash containers, stronger mechanical protection measures and smaller cash amounts stored in the ATMs.

Europol’s support to the affected Countries

Agencies from across the EU are continuously expanding their cross-border collaboration.  An Operational Taskforce was set up at Europol, bringing together investigators from several affected Member States.  This allowed Europol’s experts on organised property crime to support their colleagues from Austria, Germany and the Netherlands in forming an intelligence picture and preparing the coordinated strike.

This follows another successful operation coordinated by Europol in May 2025.

EAST Support

In support of law enforcement the EAST Expert Group on ATM and ATS Physical Attacks (EGAP) provides a European specialist expert forum for discussion of physical attack trends, attack methodologies and counter-measures, threat protection, and for the provision of regularly updated lists of known counter-measures.   Its 23rd Meeting was held on 12th March 2025 and its 24th Meeting will be held on 3rd September 2025 in The Hague.