In the midst of the political debate on the fight against Islamist terror, an Afghan threatened to assassinate Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). The handcuffs have now clicked for the man in Tyrol. The 28-year-old is in custody, the ‘Krone’ has learned.
The threat came a few days ago via a direct message on Instagram. “Change or I will come to parliament and kill you,” wrote the 28-year-old asylum seeker. The Afghan has also been guilty of other crimes. He was originally arrested for extortion in Telfs in Tyrol.
Suspect originally arrested for violent crimes
The suspect was then investigated by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in close cooperation with the regional police units and taken into custody for his threat against the Chancellor. His explanation that the devil had written the message was of no use to him.
The Afghan came to Austria in May 2015. His asylum application was initially rejected by the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum, but was eventually granted by the Federal Administrative Court after an appeal. A process is now underway to revoke his status as a beneficiary of subsidiary protection. In his message, he writes that he is a Christian and not a Muslim, but according to the Ministry of the Interior, this is not true. He also describes himself as “Essa ibni Maryum”, a prophet from the Koran who refers to Jesus of Nazareth.
Incident in the midst of the debate on the fight against terrorism
The threat comes amid the debate over Islamist terror and how to combat it, sparked by the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over the threat of terrorism. Since then, the issue has become a major campaign hotbed.
The ÖVP calls for surveillance capabilities for intelligence services, a tightening of party and association laws and an extension of detention for non-deradicalized people. “We do not tolerate Islamic activities or death threats. Anyone who does such a thing will be investigated by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and held accountable. Action will be taken against Islamist extremists without compromise and with the full force of the rule of law,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
SPÖ wants a “terrorist defense center”
The other parties reject the demands of the ÖVP and warn against surveillance of the population. They would rather shed light on the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and its work. On Saturday, the SPÖ also proposed the establishment of a defense center for extremism and terrorism. This would be a coordination platform in which representatives of the security agencies but also civil society come together. The headquarters of such a center would be in Vienna, with branches in all federal states.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
