Ticking Time Bombs: Austria Hosts Over 100 Islamist "High-Risk Individuals"
At the time of the evidently Islamist-motivated terrorist attack in Villach, more than 100 radicalized Islamist "high-risk individuals" were known nationwide in Austria. Their number currently remains in the low triple digits. They are generally considered capable of carrying out attack plans. Regionally, the "high-risk individuals" are numerically concentrated in the eastern part of the country, but are not limited to this area.
More Than 100 "High-Risk Individuals" in Austria Are Monitored by Authorities
The high-risk individuals known to the authorities are monitored by the intelligence service, although it is quite limited in this regard. In addition to conventional police work such as surveillance, attempts are also made to infiltrate investigators into relevant chat groups, where they ideally track down potential suspects. However, since the monitoring of messenger services is not legally permitted in Austria - similar strict rules exist only in Portugal across Europe - experts assume that many individuals who actually count as high-risk individuals have not yet come into the focus of the intelligence service.
Villach Attacker Was Not Among "High-Risk Individuals"
The Villach attacker, who killed a 14-year-old and seriously injured five other people, was not among the high-risk individuals. The authorities had no indications that he could be a supporter of the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS), nor that he was planning attacks. This is not surprising, as there have been increasing cases recently where Islamists radicalize in a very short time through platforms like TikTok and do not network with like-minded individuals either in real life or online. These "lone wolves" - to which the Villach attacker likely belongs according to current investigations - are considered particularly dangerous because they leave no or hardly any traces on the internet before they act.
Increase in Radicalizations After Hamas Attack and Assad's Fall
The number of Islamist high-risk individuals currently in the country is also difficult to estimate because radicalization processes have occurred or are occurring in Austria following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the collapse of the Syrian regime under President Bashar al-Assad. The number of individuals associated with Hamas and monitored by the intelligence service has increased since the fall of 2023. Since last December, the state security has also been focusing on the potential impact of recent events in Syria on the security situation in Austria.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.