More on Taylor Swift Concert in Vienna

Beran A. aka Beran Aliji

(RAIR USA)

Yesterday, we translated an article in the Austrian media on the foiled terror plot directed at a scheduled Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. A third suspect is now also in custody. Austrian police believe that the three suspects planned to attack one of three Swift concerts with homemade bombs and knives. RAIR USA is reporting the full identity of one of the suspects, previously identified as Beran A. as Beran Aliji based on Albanian-language and Norwegian news sources.

In this article from the Austrian news outlet, Kronen Zeitung, it is being reported that the suspects were radicalized online and were followers of at least one Germany-based Salafist preacher. 

The article is translated by Fousesquawk.

Radicalized online

Terror teenagers were fans of these hate preachers

It is not only Taylor Swift fans, who after the Vienna concert cancellation, were disappointed but at least unharmed, who emulated their idol on various social media channels. Those young Islamists, who wanted to drag as many people as possible to their deaths, found their questionable role models on the Internet.

They had a "big plan" (and) wanted to kill as many unbelievers as possible. The alleged members of a terror cell who planned an attack on a Taylor Swift concert radicalized themselves online.

TikTok instead of basement mosque

Because instead of a backyard or basement mosque, TikTok and others are the new platforms that radical hate preachers use. In the case of the Swift terrorists, it was a Berlin Salafist, in particular, who is himself in the sights of authorities.

Caption: Abdul Baraa has 96,1000 YouTube subscribers and on TikTok around 80,000 followers.

Abdul Baraa, true name Ahmad Armih, operated a mosque in the German capital. In the past, this (mosque) was raided and later closed due to suspicion of terror financing. The 51-year-old is one of the most influential online preachers with tens of thousands following him on YouTube and TikTok.

Toxic messages allow terror plans to grow

"In his statements and his activities, Abdul Baraa spreads his Salafist worldview, which runs counter to free, democratic basic order. Moreover, in his sermons, he constructs a conspiracy by the Western world against Islam, Muslims are for him, basically, victims," wrote the German Protection of the Constitution (agency) in a report.

Caption: The main suspect, Beran A. (small picture). He gave himself the battle name "Mo" in reference to the Prophet Mohammad.

These toxic messages, according to a report by Bild (news), may have also helped the terror plans to grow in the heads of those boys, who are expected to be remanded to pre-trial custody on Friday. The 19-year-old main suspect and the 17-year-old co-accused have been delivered to the Vienna Neustadt detention facility.

In the meantime, an 18-year-old has also been arrested, (and) a 15-year-old stopped and questioned. There is currently no suspicion against him (the latter); he is listed as a witness.

Islam influencers in the sights of authorities

 In addition to Abdul Baraa, there are also other German Salafists active on TikTok and YouTube, among them, Pierre Vogel and Ibrahim al-Azzazi, who calls himself, "Sheikh Ibrahim". 

In short clips, they pretend to answer religious questions, (but) on closer inspection, the radical way of thinking of the Islam influencers is clear. For example, in a documentary by the Y-Kollektif reporter, Selma Badawi, Ibrahim El-Azzazi refused to appear in the picture with her because she was unveiled.

Though the "Sheikh" does take occasional positions on current questions, (like) which kind of ice tea is better, he otherwise stands out with his Stone Age rules of behavior. He is also already in the sights of German authorities and is currently facing trial for bodily injury and sexual abuse of his own wife, as Welt reports. 

Caption: TikTok Salafist Ibrahim El-Azazzi, alias "Sheikh Ibrahim" (l) and the German preacher, Pierre Vogel.

Former boxer, Pierre Vogel, has called the ISIS terrorists, among others, as "freedom fighters" and is one of the most influential preachers in the German Salafist scene. Switzerland has already imposed a travel ban on him, (and) recently, Vogel claimed that Austria has imposed a similar ban on him. 

According to his own statements, Vogel is one of the leading figures behind the Koran distribution campaign, "We love Mohammad", a follow-up program to the "Lies" campaign, which was banned in Germany in 2016.