Austrian Armed Forces recover 12 tons of World War munitions

The Austrian Armed Forces' Demining Service (EMD) has recovered and destroyed more than 12 tons of dangerous World War-era munitions during the first seven months of 2026. Between January and July, the specialist unit responded to 624 reports of found or perceived explosive materials.

July saw a significant peak in activity, with 120 operations and nearly three tons of explosives neutralized. Geographically, the highest concentration of recoveries occurred in Lower Austria with 296 operations, followed by Upper Austria (88), Styria (77), Carinthia (46), and Vienna (35).

Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner highlighted the ongoing danger posed by historical munitions, stating, "The considerable amount of over 12 tons of recovered explosives shows us how present the hidden dangers of the past still are today." The military warns the public not to touch or move suspicious objects, as aging munitions become extremely unstable, and advises contacting the police immediately upon discovery.