Kidnappers in Austria grab wealthy wife

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 8

Kidnappers in Austria grab wealthy wife

NZPA-Reuter Vienna The Austrian police waited anxiously yesterday to hear from armed kidnappers holding the wife of a wealthy Austrian businessman. Interior Ministry officials said there was no hint of a motive so far in the abduction of Mrs Lotte Boehm, aged 42, as she stepped out of her car at her suburban home. Hundreds of policemen were mobilised to search the exclusive “villa belt” district bordering the Vienna woods. The white kidnap car was seen racing towards the sprawling woodland area. Mrs Boehm was Austria’s second kidnap victim in five weeks, and the police believe that two men who seized her may be political

extremists looking for a ransom to replenish West Ger, man urban guerrilla funds. No ransom demand wat made immediately, but the police expected some contad soon. The political link was mooted — but only tentati, vely — because the author, ities are convinced that guerrillas of the West Ger, man Red Army Faction ol its sympathisers master* minded" the kidnapping of the textile magnate, Waltej Michael Palmers, last month. Mr Palmers, aged 74, was held in a Vienna hideaway for four days until his family paid a ransom of SNZ2OM. The Government said the family had dealt directly with the kidnappers and had failed to co-operate with the police.