After Terror Attack in Villach: Calls for More Police and Tougher Laws

Additionally, Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) and his deputy Martin Gruber (ÖVP) advocated for messenger surveillance on Tuesday. As reported by the "Kleine Zeitung," the asylum accommodation in Villach will also be closed.

Thomas Fussenegger from the Federal Agency for Care and Support Services confirmed the closure of the refugee accommodation. Although the attacker was never in this accommodation: "But in the current situation, we are complying with the mayor's request. Also because we have enough free capacities in other facilities," said Fussenegger. Currently, 75 people are housed in Villach, and they are to be accommodated in other facilities in Austria. In total, there are still nine such accommodations.

After a security summit, Kaiser emphasized that many of the measures could only be implemented in cooperation with the federal government. Thus, he called for an increase in personnel both in the police and in the intelligence service. A major topic at the security summit was also "inciting videos on social media, or on manipulation platforms." These should be examined for both anti-democratic content and algorithms that promote radicalization. The attacker from Villach had radicalized himself within three months through Islamist videos on TikTok. And, according to Kaiser: "We will also have to work on initiating a constitutionally compliant regulation for the covert surveillance of messenger services."

After Terror Attack in Villach: Call for TikTok Ban

Gruber echoed this sentiment: "The surveillance was also endorsed and emphasized by experts. If you want to generate a sense of security, you must also allow intrusions into the personal sphere." Regarding the topic of messenger surveillance, "I lack any understanding as to why this has not been implemented long ago," said Gruber. He went a step further on the topic of TikTok: "There needs to be a general ban on TikTok. If such online media are the breeding ground for radicalization, we must dry them up." This will also require the European level.

More surveillance was demanded, and that the police should also be allowed to check private accommodations. The attacker from Villach had an IS flag on the wall in his room - if that had been discovered, the man could have been noticed earlier. And fundamentally, Gruber called for a ban on political Islam and related statements: "This will be necessary to obtain a legal basis for messenger surveillance."

"Carinthian Integration Contract" to be Developed

What should and can be implemented as quickly as possible in Carinthia is to ensure better integration of asylum seekers and those entitled to asylum, said Kaiser. This should be done with a "mandatory integration year with language courses, value education, and community service." A "Carinthian Integration Contract" is also to be developed. Integration progress should be linked to the social benefits paid out, "to establish incentives or sanction possibilities."

Stricter criteria for granting asylum should be implemented again at the Austrian level. There is also a need for educational work regarding the distinction between, for example, war refugees and people who come to Austria for economic reasons. Consistent deportations were also demanded: "At the European Union level, more return programs will have to be negotiated. Asylum is not a permanent stay, but a temporary residence," said Kaiser.

The governor also referred to the Carinthian Coordination Office for Extremism Prevention, where "peculiarities of other people" can be reported from personal, family, professional, or school environments: "This is not a spy system, but prevention in the form of experts, something that gains special significance in a situation we have now had to experience."

Two More Teenagers in Intensive Care After Terror Attack in Villach

As an immediate measure, capacities in the psychological clinics in Klagenfurt and Villach were also freed up "to support citizens who feel the need for care in this form." The topic of the security summit also included considerations of establishing a citizen's militia in Villach. This was unanimously rejected by the security organizations.

On Tuesday, two 15-year-old victims of the attack were still in the intensive care unit at the hospital. This was announced by a spokeswoman for the hospital operator Kabeg on Tuesday in response to an APA inquiry. Another person, who had been receiving intensive medical care until Monday, was meanwhile transferred to intermediate care - the link between intensive and normal care units. According to the public prosecutor's office, the two 15-year-old teenagers had suffered severe injuries to the abdomen and upper body, and long-term consequences could not be ruled out.

The Ministry of the Interior reiterated on Tuesday that the 23-year-old, contrary to his statements during interrogation, did not apply for asylum in Germany. The Syrian had applied for asylum in Austria in September 2020, and in January 2021 he was granted asylum status. According to the public prosecutor's office, the man stated that he had already come to Austria in 2019.

The FPÖ Carinthia stated that there is no need for an integration contract but rather a "remigration contract," and once again called for an asylum stop and stricter asylum laws. However, the party rejected "surveillance fantasies" or a TikTok ban. The Team Carinthia advocated for the rapid implementation of measures, and at the federal level, a national action plan against Islamism must be developed immediately. The Greens Carinthia stated that a central point in the fight against extremism is combating online radicalization: "It can no longer be tolerated that smartphones become tools of violence and hatred."

Memorial March and Mass in Villach

In Villach, the church and politics will commemorate the victims of Saturday's knife attack on Tuesday evening. After a memorial march through the city center, an ecumenical service with Catholic Diocesan Bishop Josef Marketz and Evangelical Lutheran Superintendent Manfred Sauer will take place in the city parish church. The event is also expected to be attended by top federal and state politicians, such as Interim Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP).

Starting at 6:00 PM, a candlelight procession will begin on the north side of the Drau, with the route leading over the city bridge, which is closed to traffic, past the site of the attack. Here, mourners have the opportunity to lay down candles and flowers. The silent march will then continue over the main square to the city parish church St. Jakob, where the memorial service will be held.

Muslims Pray for Victims

The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) has also invited people to a peace prayer in Villach. IGGÖ President Ümit Vural will be present at the Bosniak Cultural Center of the city on Friday, February 21, at 1:30 PM. Additionally, during the Friday prayer this week, "supplications for the victims of the terror attack and their survivors" will be spoken in all IGGÖ mosques across Austria, according to the IGGÖ. And already on Tuesday evening, the head of the Villach mosque and simultaneously IGGÖ Shura Council Chairman Esad Memi, along with representatives of the Islamic Religious Community Carinthia, will participate in the official mourning event in Villach.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.