Austrian police warned today of the possibility of an “Islam-motivated attack” against churches in Vienna, citing information received by the country’s secret services.
Without revealing the origin of the information, the police informed the population of the Austrian capital that they have reinforced security in several buildings and increased the presence of agents in the city, reported the US agency AP.
“There is a non-specific threat of aggression against the churches,” the Austrian police warned on the social network Twitter.
“As a precautionary measure (…) the points of interest were placed under increased surveillance by regular police forces and special operations,” he said.
The police “will notify immediately through all available channels” if there is a “specific danger to the population in a specific place.”
Authorities do not yet know how long the special security measures will be in place.
“The police are equipped with helmets and bulletproof vests and assault rifles. They will carry out surveillance activities and will also control traffic on the roads,” police spokesman Markus Dittrich told local radio station Radio Wien.
Dittrich did not elaborate on the source of the threat, but said more police would be seen patrolling around the churches.
The police called on people not to post images or videos on social networks of the police officers deployed for the operation.
In 2020, a man who had previously tried to join the Islamic State terror group killed four people in Vienna with an automatic rifle.
The man, who was wearing a fake explosive vest, was shot dead by police.
Source: TSF
