The Austrian police warned this Wednesday about the possibility of an “Islamically motivated attack” on churches in Vienna, citing information received by the country’s secret services.
Without disclosing the source of the information, the police informed the people of the capital of Austria that they have strengthened security in several buildings and increased the presence of officers in the city, This is reported by the American agency AP.
“There is a non-specific threat of aggression against churches,” the Austrian police warned on the social network Twitter.
#W1503 Our intelligence services have reason to believe that an Islamic-motivated attack is being planned in Vienna. As a precautionary measure, neuralgic points of interest have been placed under heightened surveillance by regular and special police forces. 1/2
– POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) March 15, 2023
“As a precautionary measure (…) the points of interest were placed under increased surveillance by the regular and special police forces,” he said.
The police will “immediately warn through all available channels” if there is “concrete danger to the population in a particular location”.
Authorities do not yet know how long the special security measures will be in place.
“Police officers are equipped with helmets and body armor and assault rifles. They will carry out surveillance activities and also conduct traffic checks,” said police spokesman Markus Dittrich. to the local radio station Radio Wien.
Dittrich gave no further details on the source of the threat, but said more police would begin patrolling around the churches.
Police are urging people not to post photos or videos on social media of police officers deployed to 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 by the police.
Source: DN
