Authorities speak of a targeted strike against right-wing extremist perpetrators. The scene of the crime was the virtual room.
Wien. Four suspects from Vienna, four from Lower Austria, two people from Vorarlberg and one person each from Salzburg, Upper Austria and Burgenland had official “visits” on Thursday: in twelve cases, house searches were carried out; in one case there was a voluntary follow-up. Mobile phones, computers and Nazi memorabilia were confiscated.
The aim of the major raid announced by the Ministry of the Interior on Friday was to take action against right-wing extremism and “hate crime” on the Internet. Two of the twelve people are legal gun owners, and one person has already been banned from guns.
The concerted action was organized by the Directorate for State Security (DSN) in conjunction with the State Offices for the Protection of the Constitution and Counter-Terrorism (LVT). The coercive measures were ordered by the responsible public prosecutor’s office.
According to the interior department, under the coordination of Europol campaigns against hate crimes in eleven other countries. Three provisional gun bans have now been imposed in Austria. A blackjack and two brass knuckles were confiscated. A gun control document was confiscated from a suspect.
The main accusation: re-activation within the meaning of the NSDAP prohibition law. The scene of the crime was the Internet or the virtual space of social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook or Telegram.
“Resolute action against any form of right-wing extremism is not only part of our historical responsibility, but also a central investigative task of the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence and the state offices,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). Justice Minister Alma Zadić (Greens) spoke of an “effective blow against the right-wing extremist milieu in Austria”. (ms/APA)