Austria: Attack on US Embassy in Vienna Foiled

[Jolie Rouge]

Austria: Attack on US Embassy in Vienna Foiled
By Jeffrey Imm

Three weeks after the arrest of suspected Jihadists in Austria, today the U.S. Embassy in Vienna foiled an apparent nail bomb attack by a 42 year old Bosnian man. The Bosnian man, who lives in Austria, was stopped with a backpack with hand grenades, nails, and Islamic literature as he tried to enter the U.S. Embassy in Vienna today. The Daily Telegraph reports that Doris Edelbacher, of Austria's counterterrorism office stated "There were a lot of nails in that bag. Had it exploded, it would have had an enormous shrapnel effect". The Bosnian man was detained after the metal detector stopped him and he attempted to flee, and the man is now being questioned.

Today's apparent attempted nail bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in Vienna is one of a series of disturbing Jihadist activity growing in Austria.

Last week, the Jerusalem Post reported that the Austrian Interior Ministry stated that authorities had discovered an online list of Austrian politicians targeted for attacks, as part of follow-up investigation on the March 2007 Global Islamic Media Front (GIMF) video threatening Austria and Germany. On September 20, the Canadian Press reported that SITE Institute had obtained information about plans by an Austrian-Canadian Jihadist cell to attack individuals and facilities around the world, quote SITE that "[t]he member of the cell enumerated several physical targets to attack, specifically mentioning the Euro 2008 championships to be held in Austria and Switzerland, UN buildings in Vienna and Geneva, and OPEC's headquarters in Vienna". On September 21, AP reported that FBI Director Robert S. Mueller met with Austrian officials to discuss the threat of terrorism at Euro 2008 soccer tournament.

Three weeks ago, Austrian authorities arrested three people suspected of being connected with a video posted online that threatened Austria and Germany with attacks if the two countries did not withdraw their military personnel from Afghanistan. One was released based on lack of evidence. AP reported that Interior Minister Guenther Platter said all three were second-generation Austrian citizens with Arab origins, and were believed to have links to Al Qaeda. All three were Vienna residents, and two of the three were reported to be a couple. AP stated that Austrian broadcaster ORF reported that the prime suspect was believed to be a sleeper Jihadist believed to have spent time in Pakistan and Afghanistan Jihad training camps. IIInterior Minister Platter also stated that the Jihad suspects were an "autonomous, independent group" that had worked on behalf of al-Qaeda. The Canadian Press reported that the Austrian prime suspect was identified as Mohammed Mahmoud, believed to be a leader of the Global Islamic Media Front.

Shortly after the arrest of the Austrian Jihad suspects, Canadian authorities arrested Said Namouh, a Moroccan living in Quebec, who was charged with conspiring to bomb unspecified targets in Vienna. Austrian authorities reported that there were"strong cyber connections" between the Austrian Jihad suspects and the Canadian Jihad suspect.

On September 13, Der Spiegel reported that "Austrian authorities revealed on Thursday their belief that the suspects arrested were in direct contact with al-Qaida over the Internet. According to Erik Buxbaum, Austria's general manager for public security, Austrian terror specialists followed events 'live' while the groups communicated. E-mail traffic was observed, and the group of young Muslims was kept under observation as part of a 'large bugging operation' code-named 'Target.'"

In the March 2007 GIMF video threatening Germany and Austria, Reuters reported that the video included the message: " 'Isn't it stupid to encourage the mujahideen to launch attacks in your country?' The speaker pointed out that Austria relied on tourism for an important part of its revenue, adding: 'This situation would change if there is a security threat and Austria becomes a country targeted by the mujahideen.' "


http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007...ack_foiled.php

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