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Now more and more oversights and omissions are coming to light that occurred in the run-up to the Islamist attack in Vienna. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is under increasing pressure. The SPÖ agreed to a motion of censure filed by the FPÖ on Thursday against Nehammer. The NEOS threatened to agree to this as well. The Greens asked the interior minister to resign.
AUSTRIA. The Freedom Party and the Social Democrats approved a FPÖ motion for a resolution, presented on Thursday night in the course of the debate on the 2018 security report, calling on Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz to remove the Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer.
Eight of the 15 detainees were convicted
On Friday, Nehammer announced more details about the investigation together with the President of the Vienna Police, Gerhard Pürstl, and the Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf. Eight of the 15 suspected Islamists arrested after the terrorist attack in Vienna have already been convicted of various crimes, two of them for an attempted honor killing in Linz. Seven of them had a criminal record.
Risk assessment instead of prevention
Due to massive criticism from the authorities, who were unable to prevent the attack, Nehammer, Pürstl and Ruf were in need of an explanation. Pürstl rejected these accusations, saying “we did a good job.” However, it appears from their statements that the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Fight against Terrorism (BVT) did not take offensive action against the murderer in Slovakia after indications of an attempt to purchase ammunition by the murderer, but only initiated a risk assessment.
In parliament, the three opposition parties demanded a full explanation from the Interior Minister. The president of the liberal club and former Interior Minister Herbert Kickl (FPÖ) said in the direction of his successor: “What you call miscommunication was the death sentence for four innocent people.” The attack could have been prevented as the interior minister knew what to do and suggested to Kickl Nehammer that he resign.
The Social Democrats did not spare criticism either. It is not about obfuscation, distraction and clichés, it is also about taking personal responsibility, he recommended the head of the party and the club Pamela Rendi-Wagner to the ÖVP minister. Now we would have to face the processes honestly, with the courage to admit mistakes. The inquiry commission announced by Nehammer does not seem to the club’s vice president, Jörg Leichtfried, the right instrument for this. Parliamentary control is needed, he demanded.
NEOS chief Beate Meinl-Reisinger is in favor of the commission, but wants the opposition to have a voice, also on the issue of the presidency. In general, it was much more moderate than the SPÖ and FPÖ, although it did not like Kurz and Nehammer’s attacks on the judiciary either. She called them “messed up”.
For its part, the ÖVP pushed for more powers for law enforcement authorities to prosecute terrorism. Chancellor Kurz found that the legal means to monitor and punish Islamic extremists and other threats do not always exist today.
LVT establishes an information hotline
As reported, the Vienna State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Fight Against Terrorism (LVT) has established a hotline and an email address where information about the terrorist act in the center of Vienna can be provided. Researchers have been available 24 hours a day at 01/31310/9974800 and at the email address [email protected] since 5 pm
German Islamists met the perpetrators in Vienna
The National Security Council approves the commission of inquiry
Seven detainees had criminal records
Vienna assassin drove to buy ammunition in Slovakia
A convicted Vienna attacker only served about eight months instead of 22 months
