2023-05-27 09:17:20
Austrians are accused of, among other things, calling for attacks or instructing them to build bombs. Group “Fire War Division” is classified worldwide as a right-wing terrorist group.
Vienna (OTS) – After intensive investigative measures by the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN), an Austrian citizen was identified as a suspected member of the “Fire Warfare Division”. Already during international investigations and the subsequent dismantling of the group controlled from Estonia in 2020, there were initial indications that one of the active chat participants may have acted from Austria. In the course of the further investigative measures, there was growing evidence that the actor was probably a 17-year-old Viennese man with connections in the right-wing ideological scene.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner: “The Directorate for State Security and Intelligence has shown once once more how consistently and intensively action has been taken once morest all forms of extremism for a long time. Last year alone, more than 660 people were reported for right-wing extremist crimes, more than 100 house searches were carried out and 37 arrests were made.”
Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, Director of the DSN: “This case shows that radicalization and the anonymity of the Internet represent a dangerous combination that poses extreme difficulties for investigators. I would like to thank my colleagues for the intensive, difficult investigative work.”
Concrete suspicion: Right-wing terrorist content spread
The suspicion once morest the accused is, among other things, a call for right-wing terrorist attacks (outside Austria), distribution or instructions for building bombs or weapons from 3D printers and instructing other members in data encryption.
During a house search ordered by the Vienna public prosecutor on May 17, 2023, the DSN managed to secure relevant evidence. The operation took place at three addresses at the same time with the support of the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Combating Terrorism in Vienna and the Cobra Task Force. The evidence that was seized consisted of firearms, cutting and stabbing weapons as well as alarm guns, Nazi-related objects and various data carriers.
The investigations of the DSN are still ongoing. Important further investigative steps are in particular the forensic evaluation of the seized data carriers and the physical evidence. A (temporary) weapon ban was also imposed on the man.
Background: “Fire War Division”
This was an internationally active, right-wing terrorist online group that was issuing actual threats abroad or concrete plans for attacks. The members of this group networked with international sympathizers mainly on encrypted Telegram channels. On these channels, they exchanged anti-Semitic, racist, Nazi-glorifying, terroristic and/or violent content among themselves. A concrete inner-Austrian threat situation might not be verified with this group in general and with the suspect in particular.
Support of the DSN by the population
Information from the population makes an important contribution to protecting our constitution and helping to solve crimes. If there is a suspicion of a NS re-activation, all information – also anonymously – can be submitted to the NS reporting office of the DSN: [email protected]
Note: This reporting office is used to generate information relevant to state security regarding NS re-activation. In the event of imminent danger or other emergencies, the emergency number must always be dialed on 133 or 112.
More resources
Right-wing extremism (dsn.gv.at)
Preventing extremism and deradicalisation (dsn.gv.at)
Registration office NS re-activation (dsn.gv.at)
Reporting Office for Extremism and Terrorism (dsn.gv.at)
Questions & contact:
federal Ministry of Internal Affairs
Division I/C/10 – Public Relations
Department spokesman of the Federal Ministry of the Interior
+43 (0) 1-531 26 – 90 15 60
BMI-Ressortsprecher@bmi.gv.at
bmi.gv.at
1685181508
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