Alarming radicalization: young people plan attacks via Telegram

Alarming radicalization: young people plan attacks via Telegram

When the 2024 Office for the Protection of the Constitution report was published, an alarming picture of the security situation in Austria emerged. According to Kosmo, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) identifies Islamist extremism as the central threat.

According to the report, the situation has worsened significantly since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. A total of 215 acts, 68 house searches and 28 arrests were documented in the area of ​​Islamist extremism last year, which led to a 40 percent increase in terrorist acts. Far-right extremism also saw a 23 percent increase in advertisements. Bodily injuries, damage to property and illegal possession of weapons are among the most common crimes.

Radicalization in the digital age

Digital radicalization among young people is a growing problem. According to the report, the number of extremist activities promoted online has more than doubled since 2022. Social media in particular are increasingly being used as platforms to manipulate and radicalize minors, as State of NRW confirms.

An example of this development is a 16-year-old teenager who founded a right-wing extremist Telegram group in 2024 and spread anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim content. This illustrates how radical ideologies increasingly appeal to youth and are anchored in digital spaces. Right-wing extremism is increasingly aimed at young people, although the scene has become younger and more modern.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution report also shows a worrying increase in politically motivated crimes, which rose to around 11,000 cases in 2024, an increase of 42 percent compared to the previous year. Since 23 percent of these crimes were committed on the internet, it is clear that extremism is gaining a foothold in the digital space. In particular, 19 percent of politically motivated crimes fell into the hate crime category, an alarming development that underscores the need for action.

Threats and security measures

The threats in Austria are diverse. In addition to Islamist extremism and the rise in right-wing extremist behavior, left-wing extremist activity has also increased by 120 percent, with a focus on physical injuries and property damage. The potential for extremist Salafism is also estimated at around 2,700 people, 600 of whom are classified as violence-oriented.

Security agencies are faced with the challenge of responding to both physical and cyber-based threats. The increase in threats against ministries, companies and parliament has already led to targeted protective measures. Hundreds of consultations have been conducted with critical infrastructure operators to protect against cyberattacks. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution acts as an early warning system and also supports other authorities in order to stabilize the security situation.

Given the complex threat situation, the digitalization strategy focuses on prevention. Initiatives such as the Nationwide Network for Extremism Prevention and Deradicalization (BNED) and the RE#work initiative are intended to focus on raising awareness and prevention.

Security is an ongoing process, the importance of which is emphasized by DSN boss Omar Haijawi-Pirchner. The goal must be to protect young people from the ideological attacks of extremist groups and to offer them alternatives.