Six British children have been taken into custody in Austria after it was revealed they were living in an abandoned wine cellar with their parents.
Police said their father, a 54-year-old Austrian, is a member of the far-right Reichsburger movement and a well-known Holocaust denier.
Social services were called to a house in Obritsa, near the Czech border, when locals began to worry about the well-being of the children.
But when they tried to get in, their father dropped pepper spray on them.
The police were called and the man was arrested. He has since been released on bail as the investigation continues.
The incident took place in the town of Obrits, near the border with the Czech Republic.
Children aged from seven months to five years, together with their mother, were taken to the hospital for examination.
Police spokesman Stefan Loidl said they were “in good condition and not left unattended”.
Now the children are looked after by social services.
Local authorities said they believed the family had been living in an illegal hideout for months, but had received complaints in the past few weeks.
Erich Greil, deputy mayor of Orbritz, said: “The surveillance cameras in front of the basement were particularly annoying, and residents sometimes heard children’s voices in the basement, and as soon as they approached, it became quiet.”
Police said there were no allegations of sexual abuse of children found in the basement.
Mr. Loidl added that “a long gun, two crossbows and several air rifles” were found in the basement.
