Austria is closing a mosque and an Islamic association because they contributed to the radicalization of the man who committed an attack in Vienna on Monday. Austrian ministers Susanne Raab (Integration) and Karl Nehammer (Internal Affairs) announced this Friday.
The decision on the Islamic institutions was made according to the Austrian news agency WHAT disclosed following a crisis meeting with the chairman of the Islamic faith community Ümit Vural.
Four civilians were killed in the attack in the Austrian capital. 22 people were also injured. The perpetrator, a 20-year-old man, was shot dead by the police.
The Austrian government acknowledges that mistakes were made in the run-up to the attack in Vienna. Neighboring Slovakia had warned that the perpetrator was trying to buy ammunition.
The man was also sentenced to 22 months in prison last year for attempting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS). He was released early.
Suspects arrested in Austria and Switzerland
Sixteen people have been arrested in Austria. Four of them have previously been convicted of terrorism-related crimes, two of violent incidents and two of attempted honor-related murder. Ten of the suspects remain in custody during the investigation.
Two suspects have also been arrested in Switzerland. According to the Swiss justice, they were already part of criminal cases for terrorist offenses. It is not clear what they are suspected of.
– .
