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According to a terrorism expert, Vienna was an easy target and the Islamic State attacker likely carried out his plan of death due to the shutdown.
“Vienna is a relatively mild destination with comparatively little police presence,” terrorism expert Nicolas Stockhammer said in an interview with ORF. Unlike Paris or London, Vienna has refrained from “letting heavily armed security forces run through the streets.” At the same time, Vienna, as the capital of a neutral country and, due to its location in the heart of Central Europe, is an interesting destination with many international organizations. The attack was more severe than the one in Nice. Because firearms were also used in Vienna.
Fatal attack carried out before
The expert believes that the attack could have been planned for a later date and was carried out earlier due to the blockade. Planning such an attack could only have taken a few days to two weeks if it were an organized cell.
Many Islamists in Vienna
According to the expert, the attack was not a total surprise. Because there have been incidents in recent years, including one or another foiled attack. “Vienna is not the island of the blessed, as many like to see it,” Stockhammer said. There have also been warnings from the secret services time and again, because Austria has “a comparatively well-developed Islamist scene.” “When it comes to migration to the so-called caliphate, to Syria and Iraq, Austria is fourth in Europe.” A total of 320 fighters had moved from Austria to Syria and Iraq. The alleged perpetrator was also allegedly in Syria to join the Islamic State.
European context
Stockhammer does not believe the attack was a reaction to the US-led anti-IS coalition, as claimed by one terrorist, according to the US company SITE, which specializes in monitoring Islamist websites. “It’s a bit implausible, of course you always try to create an international context, but I see it more in the European context.”
