Austrian security forces conducted raids against 72 alleged Islamic extremists this week in anticipation of the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The raids, which took place across the country on Tuesday, aimed to prevent potential copycat violence on the date of the tragic plane hijackings that claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
The Directorate of State Security and Intelligence stated that the 9/11 attacks remain symbolic for extremists and have inspired similar attempts in the past. Authorities highlighted the high risk of attacks around the world on the anniversary date.
Last year, security forces thwarted an attempted attack at the Vienna central station on the anniversary of 9/11. The recent raids come after the foiling of a plot targeting Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, which were subsequently canceled. The main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man, allegedly had ties to the Islamic State group and planned to harm tens of thousands of fans.
The 19-year-old suspect had reportedly pledged allegiance to the current leader of the Islamic State group online. Additionally, authorities discovered Islamic State group and al-Qaida materials at the residence of a 17-year-old suspect.
The operations on Tuesday included raids on several prisons in Austria, as well as interrogations of suspects and the seizure of digital devices like cellphones to search for evidence of radical Islamic propaganda.
Austria's director general for public security emphasized the importance of cooperation between security agencies in countering extremism, likely referring to the recent Taylor Swift plot. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner called for enhanced investigative powers to uncover and prevent such threats. Currently, Austrian authorities often rely on intelligence from other countries due to legal limitations on monitoring text messages within Austria.
