[Report by Wilhelm Theuretsbacher: "Office for the Protection of the Constitution Locates Islamist Extremists"]
"Homemade" extremism is declining. But Austria's Islamist scene is radicalizing. This is one of the findings of the new security report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Fight Against Terror.
The report was published on Tuesday [27 July]. "There is also a clear increase in fundamentalists in Austria." The global "war on terror" is cited as the likely reason for that.
"Jihadist tendencies" (Holy War) are also noticeable. There is a reservoir of activists that have to be observed because they are the recruiting pool for Islamist terrorists. And they are disguising themselves very well. "The extremist Islamist scene in Austria maintains international contacts and shows conspiratorial patterns of behavior." Nevertheless, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution was able to draw a picture of the situation of extremist foreigner organizations. Plans of an embassy, which was apparently spied out (for a possible attack?) were even found in the apartment of an Egyptian.
Bosnian neo-fundamentalist Wahabites -- During the Bosnian war, Bosniaks were radicalized by Arab Mujahidin. They have now also structures in Vienna, Linz, and Graz. In Vienna, the Bosniak youth center seems to have been established.
Caliphate -- Supporters of Metin Kaplan's extremist organization, banned in Germany, have been located in Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Vienna.
Great East Islamic Raiders Front -- Carried out suicide attacks in Turkey and is on the EU's terror list. Supporters were seen in Vienna mosques.
Turkish Hizballah -- Supporters were noticed in Vorarlberg. One suspected terrorist is in detention awaiting trial.
The Islamic Liberation Party distributes propaganda material in Vienna.
The suspicion concerning possible terror funding or Al-Qa'ida activities was not corroborated. To prevent further radicalization, Gert Rene Polli, head of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, wants to intensify the dialogue with the cultures established in Vienna. In fact, the large majority of the Austrian Muslims is not interested in radicalization.
Apart from Mideast and North African terror groups, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is also investigating Chechen terror groups. There have been individual cases of support for rebel leader Shamil Basayev and former President Aslan Maskadov in Vienna. As a result, a wanted Chechen was arrested in Vienna.
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