Terror in Vienna: Proceedings against two Swiss stopped

Terror in Vienna: Proceedings against two Swiss stopped

The men from Winterthur had been investigated for “preparatory acts for murder”, but the judiciary found no evidence that they had participated in the assassination. However, one of the two was fined for depicting violence. The two men had visited the IS supporter in the summer of 2020, who shot four people dead in downtown Vienna on November 2 of the same year, injured at least 23 other people, some seriously, and was then shot dead by the police. They were arrested the day after the assassination by the Zurich cantonal police’s Diamant special unit.

“Causal contribution” not substantiated

It was already announced in mid-January that the main proceedings against one of the two men had been discontinued due to a lack of evidence. Now the second has found the same conclusion. The federal prosecutor’s office confirmed reports in Swiss newspapers on Thursday.

The suspicion that the two could have “supported or promoted” the assassination attempt “through a causal contribution to the crime” could not be substantiated in the investigation by the federal prosecutor’s office, according to the two termination orders. There is no evidence that the men were involved in the assassination or knew about it in advance.

Nevertheless conviction for “ideological conviction”

One of the two men was nevertheless convicted: Among other things, he had an IS video entitled “Cleaving Heads” on his cell phone, in which people were beheaded and shot. He also showed this to colleagues.

The man acted “out of deep ideological conviction” and is still moving “in a Salafist environment of people known to the authorities,” according to the penal order issued by the federal prosecutor. “There was no credible distancing from the crimes committed by the terrorist organization IS as part of the criminal investigation.”

The federal prosecutor found him guilty of violating the IS law and possessing violent images. It punishes him – with a probationary period of three years – with a conditional prison sentence of six months and a fine of 1,000 francs.

No compensation

In view of this conditional prison sentence of 180 days, the man will not be compensated for the 176 days he was imprisoned after the Vienna attack, contrary to his request. However, he received a so-called satisfaction of 3,250 francs (3,125 euros), among other things because of a possible prejudice through media reporting. In return, he has to bear the procedural costs of 7,000 francs.

For the second man arrested after the Vienna attack, it is still unclear whether he will be compensated for his imprisonment. Despite the cessation regarding the main allegations, proceedings are also being conducted against him for less serious allegations. This is not finished yet.

Source: Nachrichten

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