ISIS Sleeper Apparently Planned Attack on Vienna Christmas Market

Since December 1, a 21-year-old Afghan has been in pre-trial detention in Salzburg, who is believed to have been a sleeper for attacks by the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS). A corresponding online report by the "Salzburger Nachrichten" (SN) on Friday was confirmed by the spokeswoman for the Salzburg public prosecutor's office, Ricarda Eder, to the APA. "The man is being investigated for participation in a terrorist organization," said Eder.

Planned Attack with Knives and Explosives: 21-Year-Old Was Ready for ISIS

According to SN, ISIS supporters in Austria are believed to have planned attacks on Christmas markets, a possible terrorist attack during the pre-Christmas period was prevented. Apparently, a knife attack was planned, there were also plans for an attack with explosives. The targets were likely to be police officers, Jews, and Christmas markets. The 21-year-old suspect last lived in Salzburg, where he was also arrested. He is believed to have worked in Hallein.

Vienna Apparently Escaped Attack on Christmas Market

Where the attack was supposed to be carried out is unclear. "But the federal capital Vienna keeps coming up in exchanges with ISIS," it said in the "Salzburger Nachrichten". The 21-year-old is not believed to have received exact details from the terrorist militia, but he was apparently ready for them at any time.

The Afghan is alleged to have spread IS propaganda on his TikTok channel and to have been active in several relevant IS online forums. The Salzburg State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counter-Terrorism (LSE) is likely to have tracked him down through these. According to SN, handwritten notes and data carriers were seized during a house search. The young man is said to have confessed extensively and admitted to IS membership in his initial interrogations.

Warning of IS Supporters During Pre-Christmas Period

The spokeswoman for the Salzburg public prosecutor's office confirmed the suspect's imprisonment on suspicion of involvement in a terrorist organisation on Friday, but no further details were given for tactical reasons.

Both in Germany and Austria, warnings were issued during the pre-Christmas period about IS supporters who were planning attacks on Christmas markets. After the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, it was initially suspected to be a possible IS attack, but it quickly became apparent after the attack that a doctor from Saudi Arabia, who had renounced Islam and sympathised with the AfD, was likely behind the attack.

During the attack on December 20, the 50-year-old suspect is said to have driven a rental car over the Magdeburg Christmas market, hitting numerous visitors. Five people died, 200 were injured. The suspect has been living in Germany since 2006. He felt threatened in his home country, among other things because he was a critic of Islam. The motive for the act is still unclear.

(APA/Red)

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