Wolfgang Priklopil

Infobox Person
name = Wolfgang Priklopil


image_size = 175px
caption = Passport photograph of Priklopil
birth_date = birth date|1962|5|14|mf=y
birth_place = Hainburg an der Donau, Austria
death_date = Death date and age|2006|8|23|1962|5|14
death_place = Vienna, Austria
occupation = Telecommunications technician
spouse =

Wolfgang Priklopil (May 14, 1962 in Hainburg - August 23, 2006 in Vienna) was an Austrian communications technician. He is identified as the person who kidnapped the then 10 year old Natascha Kampusch and held her for eight years, committing suicide after she escaped.Priklopil was born to Karl and Waltraud Priklopil, in Hainburg, an only child. Karl was a cognac salesman and Waltraud a shoe saleswoman.cite news | title = "The silence of the lamb" | work = Guardian | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2099-2483706_2,00.html | accessdate = 2006-12-10 |language = English] Priklopil worked for a time at Siemens as a communications technician.

He kidnapped Kampusch on the morning of 2 March 1998 as she was on her way to school. Priklopil kept her in a custom built basement (commonly referred to as a 'dungeon') under his house in Strasshof, Lower Austria. The house was built by Priklopil's grandfather, Oskar Priklopil, after World War II. During the Cold War period, Oskar and his son Karl built a bomb shelter, thought to be the origin of Kampusch's dungeon. Priklopil took over the house in 1984 following his grandmother's death.

Kampusch escaped on 23 August 2006. After a police chase, from which he escaped, Priklopil committed suicide by stepping in front of a moving railroad train near the Vienna Northern Station.cite news | first = Duke| last = Katie| title = 'Respect my privacy' says kidnap victim | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/austria/article/0,,1859303,00.html| work = Guardian Unlimited| date = 2006-08-27| accessdate = 2006-08-27| language = English] [cite news|publisher=Washington Post|date=24 August 2006|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/24/AR2006082400174.html|title=Austrian girl's suspected kidnapper kills himself|accessdate=2006-08-25|first=Karin|last=Strohecker]

He was buried on September 8, 2006 in the Piplitz family grave in the town of Laxenburg, south of Vienna.

References

External links

* [http://www.bild.t-online.de/BTO/news/aktuell/2006/08/31/natascha-entfuehrung-wahrheit/image-map/natascha-haus-gro_C3_9F.html Photo: Kidnapper's house and garden]
* [http://www.news.at/articles/0636/12/150923_s5.shtml Important informations by NEWS] de icon
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByHDjaVPXSg&NR=1 Last pictures showing Wolfgang Priklopil one hour before he dies]