Since this situation is on-going in Vienna, this is a partial translation of today's, Kronen Zeitung article. Vienna police are safeguarding churches today in the face of intelligence there might be an attack against Christian, and particularly, Syrian-Christian churches in the capital. We will follow this up with the remainder of the article later today as well as a subtitled version of the video in the article. The translation is by Fousesquawk. *Update: The video is now above. (hat tip Vlad Tepes, Gates of Vienna and RAIR Foundation USA).
March 15, 2023 10:16 National-Vienna
Heightened presence
Terror alarm: attack danger for churches in Vienna
Increased police presence in the National capital. On Wednesday morning, Via Twitter, the State Police command reported a strengthened presence, some also with special equipment. The reason: A threatened danger of an attack against Vienna churches.
What is concrete is that there is a security alarm from the Command of the State Security and Intelligence Service (DSN). According to Krone's information, the police intelligence service received a tip about a planned attack by a Syrian-Islamist terror cell.
Apparently, the threat is directed against those (Syrians) who fled the war and dictator Bashar al-Assad. According to this (information), these people were to be murdered while attending mass because they did not participate as God's fighters in the jihad.
To provide this security, more police-local forces, WEGA and Cobra are being deployed, the police say. "With this surveillance, it is a precautionary measure, " it was stressed.- a normal process in such scenarios.
Church in close coordination with police
However, the danger is not so high that for now, there is no need for temporary closures or cancellation of services, the Archdiocese of Vienna reports. The Catholic Church is in close contact with the police. "We know that it will be more closely controlled, " said Michael Prueller, spokesman for the Vienna Archdiocese. Vienna's Cathedral priest, Toni Faber, expressed gratitude to the security authorities through Kathpress (Catholic Press, Austria), "that the situation is under control and appropriate security measures have been taken."
Insert: Police tweet
You will notice increased police forces in the city area with special equipment. The reason is there is an unspecified danger of attack against churches. We will keep you updated.
*Update: Here is the remainder of the above translation.
The founder of the Syrian-Orthodox Church in Austria, Emanuel Aydin, says he has had no direct contact with the police. Officers have been in the area around his church in Favoriten and have spoken with members of the community. The church is still open.
Bishop Gabriel of the Coptic-Orthodox Church told Ö1-„Mittagsjournal“ (Austrian One Mid Day Journal) that they have been informed of the threat situation.
National army, "Forces sensitized"
The National Army was not immediately brought in for assistance, said the spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, Colonel Michael Bauer. "Our forces, who routinely guard the embassies, are sensitized." In a local inspection in the inner city, only a slightly-increased police presence was noted.
How long the guarding of the churches due to a "heightened Islamist-motivated attack danger" will be kept is unclear.
"There are high risk individuals in Austria too"
Even after the far-reaching defeat of the Islamic State terror militia (IS), there is a threat from radical-Islamist forces, stressed the leader of the State Security and Intelligence Service Command, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, Tuesday in a press conference in the Interior Ministry. From observation of the relevant networks, they see "Islamists who are able to carry attacks in Europe," says Haijawi-Pirchner. "Also in Austria, there are high-risk individuals".
As far as persons in Austria are concerned, from whom there is a danger, Haijawi-Pirchner distinguishes three groups: Individuals often radicalized over the Internet, who are born between 1995 and 2010, and who are active on social media channels like Tik-Tok and Instagram. Next, there is a second group, also on social media, but who also visit relevant mosques and bars. The last group is adults, often men born in Austria strongly interconnected with each other and acting in a conspiratorial manner.
Again and again police protection for Muslim personalities
Tarafa Baghajati, Chairman of the Austrian Muslim Initiative (IMO), said he was concerned and shocked over the possible attack plans. He stressed that moderate imams and/or Muslim personalities might be concerned with such tendencies. In the past few years, more and more Muslim personalities have had to seek police protection because they were threatened by ISIS or put on a "death list".
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*Update: March 16, 2023
Nothing occurred yesterday in terms of any terror attack in Vienna. Today, the media and politicians are asking questions. Did the police overreact? Was the public adequately and promptly informed? Was the information reliable? At any rate, the good news is that nothing happened. Maybe the fact that the police went public caused someone to cancel their plans-for now. At this point, it is all speculation.
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