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Police: Islamist risk of attack on church facilities in Vienna

Police: Islamist risk of attack on church facilities in Vienna
Large-scale operation for the Vienna police. (Archival photo as the Executive asks not to bring recent photos).
Image: ROLAND SCHLAGER (APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

“Due to a risk assessment by the DSN and several LVT, increased surveillance and guarding of neuralgic places or objects in Vienna was ordered as a precautionary measure. For this purpose, uniformed police forces are visible in public spaces, which are made up of district forces, WEGA and the EKO Cobra.” , it said in the police tweet.

“The duration of this increased property protection cannot be estimated at the moment. If there is a specific danger for the population at a specific location, the LPD (State Police Directorate, note) Vienna will immediately warn through all available channels.” The population was asked not to spread rumors or to take and share photos or videos of the police operation.

According to officially unconfirmed information, the attack plans could target facilities of the Syrian-Christian diaspora in the federal capital. However, this was not confirmed by the police or the Ministry of the Interior. Likewise, there were no comments on posts that were already circulating on social media in the morning, according to which an SUV with a foreign license plate and four occupants was being searched for, one of whom is said to have a gunshot wound to the hand. Police spokesman Markus Dittrich did not say when the operation began. “The operation started after we became aware of the clues to the attack plans.”

No churches closed

The Viennese cathedral priest Toni Faber confirmed Wednesday morning to “Kathpress” that one knew of a dangerous situation. However, he could not give any further details. In any case, he is grateful to the police and security authorities “that they have the situation under control and have taken appropriate security measures”. Michael Prüller, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Vienna, said: “The risk of an attack is not so evident that the churches would need to be closed.” Nothing is currently changing in the course of trade fairs. The Catholic Church is in close contact with the police. “We know that there will be more controls.”

The founder of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Austria, Emanuel Aydin, says he has not yet had direct contact with the police. Officials were in the vicinity of his church in Favoriten and spoke to members of the community. The church is still open.

No army requested

The army was not initially used for assistance, said the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Michael Bauer, the APA. “Our forces, which routinely guard the embassies, are sensitized.” During a local inspection in the city center, there was little increased police presence.

Source: Nachrichten

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