Trial about terrorist plans against Vienna Pride started – shock for Vienna!

Trial about terrorist plans against Vienna Pride started – shock for Vienna!

The trial of two brothers who are accused of carrying out attacks on the Vienna Pride 2023 to have planned has begun. A 19-year-old and his 22-year-old brother are accused, and the charges are based on the instructions for committing a terrorist offense (§ 278f StGB). Given the course of the trial, it remains unclear whether verdicts will be made on Tuesday. Court spokeswoman Birgit Eisenmagen confirmed another trial day on August 5th.

The 19-year-old's defense attorney said he would only plead guilty as a member of a terrorist organization. He explains that the 14-year-old's turn to the Islamic State (IS) was due to an "ill-advised action" and youthful madness. The brothers are said to have encouraged a Ukrainian in his suicide attack plans and glorified IS on platforms such as TikTok and Telegram.

Attack plans and radicalization

The 19-year-old had specific plans to purchase an AK-47 assault rifle and a large knife in the Czech Republic in order to carry out an attack on the LGBTQ Pride in Vienna on June 17, 2023. His younger brother announced that he would travel to an IS area to support fighters. Both brothers also posed with the tawhid gesture, a symbol used by Islamist groups. Evidence of the 19-year-old's plans to leave the country is supported by documents collected online.

The Vienna public prosecutor's office stated that no attack was imminent, but that plans for the attack were discussed in a Telegram group. The discussions and threatening rhetoric in the chats were picked up by a foreign partner service and led to an early warning to the security authorities. The defendants were released after a short period of imprisonment due to a lack of strong suspicion.

Concerns about youth radicalization

The developments surrounding the two brothers should not be viewed in isolation. As per a report by South German newspaper As a result, a younger target group is increasingly trying to join ideologically extremist wars and assassination plots. One example is a 13-year-old from Garching who flirted with an attack on the Munich Spring Festival and stated “revenge for Palestine” as his motive. The security authorities are concerned about the growing willingness to use violence among young people.

Research findings on the radicalization of young people highlight the risks associated with the appeal of extremist ideologies. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education The role of the Internet in radicalization is particularly highlighted. More and more young people are being reached and influenced through social media, increasing the challenge for security agencies and society as a whole.

With the ongoing process and discussion about radicalization in this age group, the question arises as to how such developments can be stopped preventively. It is undisputed that increased attention to education and preventive programs is necessary to counteract such threats.