An original translation by Ava Lon with much thanks!

Because of smoking ban

Vienna: Symphony musician beaten in subway

January 22, 2017

A symphony musician (48) must now tremble for his future as a professional musician.

On the way home after a tour, Michael Bachmann (strings) was in Vienna on Sunday night: “In the afternoon we played in Dortmund. We were brought to the concert hall. It was already midnight and I wanted to take the subway home.”

The symphony musician stood on the platform of the U4 station Karlsplatz in the direction of Hütteldorf when he smelled the typical cigarette smoke. “I saw three teenagers and pointed out that smoking in the subway area is not allowed.” Because the youths — probably Arabs or Afghans —claimed not to understand him, Bachmann repeated his request in English. Then the opponent who was smoking spat in his face.

At least four weeks of sick leave

Angry, the musician confronted the spitter, who then launched a karate kick against his hand. “At first I did not feel that something had happened. Several witnesses intervened; we rode together on the subway for two stations until the three got off at Pilgramgasse.” Only then did he notice that his left ring finger “stood out at an odd angle”. His son (a friend of La Hong) and the fashion designer took him to the ER. There they diagnosed a complex torsion fracture; the finger was realigned and will be in a cast for at least four weeks.

It is not yet possible to assess whether any consequential damage remains. On Sunday, the symphonist pressed charges against the smoker for serious bodily harm. After that the police are expected to take over the case.

[Below a video of this man in concert]