Suche
Mein Konto
Young people in radicalization: Internet as a new recruiting field
The security situation in Vienna remains tense. DSN director warns of radicalized threats, especially on the Internet.
Young people in radicalization: Internet as a new recruiting field
In Austria, the terrorist threat from radicalized Islamists remains high. This emerges from the statements of Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, director of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN). In an interview, he emphasized that although there is no concrete evidence of impending attacks, there is a “high abstract threat,” which illustrates the urgency of the situation. Haijawi-Pirchner speaks of a mid-double-digit number of threats who are getting younger and younger. Most of them are men, but the proportion of female followers is also increasing. This poses a challenge for the security authorities, as some of the perpetrators are even under the age of criminal responsibility vienna.at reported.
In addition, Haijawi-Pirchner showed that radicalization is increasingly taking place via the Internet. Platforms like TikTok and Telegram have displaced traditional hotspot mosques by acting as new recruiting grounds for extremist ideologies. According to the 2023 Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution report, the fascination with violent content has a major influence on the radicalization process, which is reflected in the spread of brutal videos on social media. The DSN plans to address these trends early through targeted programs in schools, particularly among the very young, to avoid a potential threat to public safety.
Need for legal action
Another central point of Haijawi-Pirchner's remarks is the demand for improved legal frameworks for monitoring encrypted communications. It is necessary to monitor the communications of specific threats who are planning attacks in order to be able to intervene in a timely manner. The financing of terrorism is also discussed, as there is evidence of money flowing from Austria to the Gaza Strip. This leads to investigations that also include the seizure of pro-Hamas material during house searches dsn.gv.at. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and the constant efforts to ensure security in Austria.