Terror expert warns: – “Austria has a problem with young Islamists”

Since 2014, it has been noted that IS is “attractive” to many young people from different backgrounds in Austria.

“Radicalization in Austria”
In recent years, the researcher on Islamism has even stated that “jihadist radicalization in Austria has continued unabated,” affecting “a particularly large number of young people” in this country.

Worried about a new wave of attacks
Steinberg fears that a new wave of Islamist attacks, fueled by the Gaza war between the militant Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas and Israel, is coming, but emphasizes that there is “greater continuity” in the attacks.

It can be stated that since 2020, attacks have been committed more frequently and in closer succession in Northern and Central Europe.

Since the terrorist attack in Vienna in November 2020, “planning activity has remained at a very, very high level.” The reason for this is the enthusiasm among certain young people for the IS ideology.

Consumption of IS propaganda as the main cause
“IS Afghanistan” is particularly successful in recruiting young individual perpetrators. According to previous information, murderers and suspected terrorist planners or IS supporters who were involved in events known to the police in Austria in recent years did not know each other and were not or hardly connected to each other. Steinberg concludes that individual young people can be mobilized today simply by consuming IS propaganda.

Criticism of authorities
On the state of security authorities in Europe, Steinberg said: “We must first be clear that our security authorities are weak.” There is no way to strengthen the authorities in general. In particular, the surveillance of telecommunications – the services for sending keywords – must be upgraded to be able to detect attackers early.