According to the Media and security agencies reports on the planed terrorist attack in Austria; the threat of terrorism suddenly became tangible again in Austria on Wednesday. Chancellor Karl Nehammer speaks to the Nation.
This news shock Austria on Wednesday that state security and police prevented a planned terrorist attack with bombs and machetes on one of the Taylor Swift concerts at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
The suspected main perpetrator, Beran A. (19), was arrested during a security operation in Ternitz, Lower Austria who proudly boasted about his plans during hours of interrogation. The young IS fanatic had wanted to “kill as many infidels as possible”. The mega-events were cancelled, but fear has been running rampant in the country ever since.
In this tense situation, Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (VP) is now speaking out. He has interrupted his holiday to take a stand on the planned attacks at a press conference in Vienna.
Unfortunately, we live in times in which there are forces that want to fight our joy of life and our freedom with terrorist means,” Nehammer began with a review of past attacks in Paris or Moscow. “Such an attack was also planned in Austria. Thank God this tragedy was prevented.”
It is not just a moment of sadness for the tens of thousands of Swifties. However, it was “unavoidable” that safety came first. In the Chancellor’s view, the organiser had acted responsibly by cancelling the event. The three suspected perpetrators had wanted to cause a “bloodbath”.
“It is unimaginable what immeasurable damage would have been caused if this attack had succeeded.” The fanatic are stopped by the intensive cooperation with the new Office for the Defence of the Constitution of the Republic, the DSN, the Army Intelligence, partner services from abroad and the Austrian executive. The surveillance in the run-up to the attack and the identification of accomplices was “more than a challenging and a difficult task”.
“Terror wants to sow hatred between people, to turn a society against each other. This makes it more important to show the strength of our society, democracy and values. ” Terrorists wanted to smash the state and bring radical ideologies to power from the ruins.
Nehammer hopes to be able to provide the police and state security with more options in future. This has so far failed due to parliamentary majorities, but the Chancellor believes that the prevented attack could now be followed by “raising awareness”.
In any case, the National Security Council will meet in the next few days, claimed Federal Chancellor.
