Terror Attacks: No Uniform Pattern in the Origin of Perpetrators
All claim to act in the name of Islam, but the countries of origin vary, and the perpetrators have mostly been in the country for a long time.
An exception is the attacker from Villach, who had only been in Austria for about five years, came to the country as a Syrian asylum seeker, and then also received protected status.
Plans for an attack on Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral could not be substantiated. However, the originally suspected individuals were taken into custody due to "significant potential threat." Two men were from Tajikistan, and a woman was from Turkey. Another man, who was to be taken to Dagestan, was found dead in his cell.
Two Men with North Macedonian Roots in Focus
Internationally, the most attention was drawn by plans for an attack on a Taylor Swift concert. Two young men were arrested. The main suspect, a young man with North Macedonian roots, is still awaiting his trial. The same applies to a second man whose father is from Croatia. Another man from Iraq, who is said to belong to the network around the main suspect, has since been sentenced to two years in prison, six months of which are unconditional, for terrorist association and criminal organization.
Also of North Macedonian origin is the man responsible for the most consequential attack in recent times. Four people died in the shooting attack in downtown Vienna. The perpetrator lived his entire life in Austria.
16-Year-Old Planned Attack at Vienna Central Station
In 2023, a then 16-year-old planned an attack at Vienna Central Station, which ultimately failed mainly because he lost his nerve. The young man is Austrian with Turkish roots and is now back in custody after a temporary release.
Also from a Turkish family is the 14-year-old who was arrested on February 10th of this year for allegedly planning an attack at Vienna West Station. Further details about him are not yet known.
One of the most well-known Islamists in Austria is Lorenz K. The native Austrian with Albanian roots was sentenced to 16 years in prison in a second trial last year. The jury found him guilty of attempting to incite a German to carry out an attack in the name of IS from prison. In the first trial, he was convicted of inciting a 13-year-old boy to build an explosive device and use it to carry out an attack at a Christmas market in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
With roots in Montenegro is the 14-year-old girl who was convicted in Graz last year for the crimes of a terrorist association and a criminal organization in the first instance.
(APA/Red)
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