Swift Terror Suspect: Apparently, an Attack in Dubai was also Planned

This was confirmed by the authority spokesperson Nina Bussek to the APA on Sunday. According to the "Kronen Zeitung" (Sunday edition), the 19-year-old from Ternitz (Neunkirchen district) had already planned to carry out a terrorist attack in Dubai in March 2024.

As the "Krone" reports in detail, the 19-year-old, together with two other young men, believed to be followers of the radical Islamist terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS) and residing in Eastern Austria, had planned to carry out an attack at three different locations simultaneously on March 11 of the previous year - at the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan. Beran A. flew to Dubai and reportedly intended to stab a soldier in front of a mosque and then "shoot at people in the vicinity" with his revolver, as he later confessed. However, he then lost his courage. He decided "at the last moment" against an attack because he feared "dying in a hail of police bullets and having to suffer beforehand," the "Krone" quotes from a transcribed interrogation of the accused.

Acquaintance of Beran A. Allegedly Carried Out Attack in Mecca

One of the two brothers in faith, with whom Beran A. had initially published an oath of allegiance to the IS on Snapchat in early 2024 and has been pursuing bloody terror plans since February, apparently did not shy away from implementation. Security circles confirmed to the APA on Sunday the "Krone" report, according to which a 20-year-old Lower Austrian is in custody in Saudi Arabia. He is said to have stabbed and seriously injured a security officer in front of the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca at the agreed time. He then allegedly attacked and injured three more men and a woman before he could be overpowered and arrested by security forces.

The Al-Haram Mosque is the largest mosque in the world. In its courtyard is the Kaaba, the central sanctuary of Islam. The 20-year-old from Lower Austria is said to have flown to Mecca and procured the weapon there. He is said to have stabbed the first security officer in the neck in front of the mosque, the other victims were also security forces who went after the armed attacker and whom he wanted to fend off with blows and stabs with the knife.

The Foreign Ministry said on Sunday afternoon that they could confirm this case. The 20-year-old is in custody in Saudi Arabia and is receiving consular support. They are also in contact with his relatives, a spokesperson told the APA. Further questions - such as in which prison the man is or about the conditions of detention - remained unanswered with reference to data protection regulations.

According to APA information, the 20-year-old alleged IS supporter was already known to the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence Service (DSN). The identity of the third member of the group - who had flown to Istanbul to carry out an attack there - is not yet finally clarified according to the "Krone". He is therefore likely to still be at large - from the point of view of the law enforcement authorities, the current media coverage is inconvenient. There are currently no indications that there was a terrorist act in Istanbul around March 11, 2024, according to the "Krone".

Pre-trial Detention for 19-Year-Old Extended in Vienna

Investigations are now also underway for terrorist offences (§ 278c StGB) in connection with intentional crimes such as attempted murder against the 19-year-old who was arrested in Ternitz on August 7, 2024, and has since been in the Vienna-Josefstadt prison. The final assessment will be made after the conclusion of the investigations. The Vienna Regional Court extended the pre-trial detention just a few days ago - on January 13, court spokeswoman Christina Salzborn told APA upon request.

Regarding the attack in Mecca, the 19-year-old is accused of a "psychological contribution". He is said to have encouraged the 20-year-old to carry out the terrorist act in front of the Al-Haram Mosque. The lawyer of the 19-year-old was not initially available for the APA on Sunday.

"Sacrifice" Announced on Relevant Channel

The young man from Ternitz seems to have radicalised since 2023. He consumed videos of so-called hate preachers on social networks. Via TikTok, Telegram and Signal, he became part of a network that rolled out attack plans in the name of IS. In early 2024, he and his accomplices announced a "sacrifice" on a relevant channel, stating that the Arab countries must be "liberated from Mohammed's enemies" and "the whole world must be conquered by the Muslims, the believing Muslims", with a rule according to Sharia law being sought.

Upon his return from Dubai, the 19-year-old did not back down from his terror intentions. According to the latest investigation results, quoted by the "Krone", he initially considered an attack on the Rainbow Parade of the LGBTIQ+ community or at a tourist attraction, but changed his mind at the end of July while reading a newspaper report about the upcoming performances of Taylor Swift in Vienna.

In preparation for the alleged planned attack on the Happel Stadium, the 19-year-old is said to have watched documentaries about the Charlie Hebdo attack and the devastating terrorist acts in America on September 11, 2001, and trained several times a day in a gym. The prosecution authorities assume that he wanted to kill as many "Swifties", as the fans of the singer are called, gathered in front of the stadium, either with a homemade explosive device or with bladed weapons already in his possession.

Thanks to a tip from the FBI, the 19-year-old was tracked down in time. During a house search of the person arrested on August 7, electronic ignition devices, a twelve-channel transmitter, a detonator, a 60 centimetre long metal pipe, a 30 centimetre long combat knife, a 46 centimetre long machete and a butterfly knife were found, in addition to chemicals available in any hardware store and the TATP-containing liquid.

(APA/Red)

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