After attack plans in Vienna
Updated on 12.08.2024, 17:51
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner continues to push for new surveillance options. © APA/HELMUT FOHRINGER
Last week, singer Taylor Swift’s three concerts in Vienna were cancelled after plans for attacks became known. The Greens now want to have a draft from the Interior Ministry on a possible expansion of messenger surveillance examined.
After the thwarting of alleged plans to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, the Greens are now opening up to a possible expansion of the powers of the Directorate for State Security and Intelligence (DSN) to monitor messengers: A corresponding draft from the Interior Ministry is to be sent for review, the APA said on Monday. Then lawyers and experts would have “the opportunity to form a well-founded opinion”.
On Monday, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) once again called for “modern surveillance methods”. A draft law on this has been with the Greens for months, said Karner on the sidelines of a press conference. The options it contains, for example for messenger surveillance, “make sense”, but he has “no understanding” for “constant tinkering”. “Terrorists don’t write letters,” emphasized the Interior Minister, referring to the coalition partner for further questions. A majority in the National Council is required for implementation. The Greens have recently shown themselves to be fundamentally willing to talk, but demanded a proposal that complies with fundamental rights, data protection and the constitution.
Balancing security against terrorism and protection of civil rights
On Monday afternoon, the Green Party announced that it was in favor of a transparent public discussion. “It is clear that we must do everything we can to prevent terrorist acts of violence and protect the population,” said party chairwoman Sigrid Maurer in a statement to the APA. “After the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the federal Trojan horse in 2019, there are many open questions that have not yet been adequately clarified. In order to facilitate this clarification, it is now time to send the BMI draft for public review.”
During the review phase, which usually lasts six weeks, lawyers, constitutional lawyers, technology and data protection experts, the opposition and the public have “the opportunity to form a well-founded opinion”. This issue is about weighing up two important concerns, the Greens emphasized: security against terrorism and the protection of civil rights. “Such a large project must also be discussed broadly by experts and on the basis of facts – let’s do this transparently in public so that everyone can get an idea of the Interior Ministry’s draft,” said Maurer.
Greens call for law for security companies
The Greens also called for a law for security companies. These are currently “not subject to any quality standards or controls,” criticized Maurer. “There is neither standardized training nor minimum requirements for staff.” These “abuses” that have become apparent through the investigations should be remedied by a “security services law.” The Greens want to see a registration requirement for and control of security companies implemented in this law, and employees should also be officially registered, including a comparison with the security authorities. Training for staff should be standardized. Maurer announced talks with the coalition partner on this matter.
Karner welcomes mandatory security checks for employees
When asked at the press conference, Karner had previously welcomed the possibility of creating a mandatory security check for employees at large events. This would be “good and sensible”. When asked, Karner did not confirm that, according to the “Standard” (Monday edition), eight security employees scheduled for the concert were identified as officially known – which was also the reason for the Greens’ demand. Regarding the ongoing investigations, Karner said on Monday that the picture of “attack planning and radicalization” was becoming more and more solid. Data storage devices such as mobile phones and contacts were currently being analyzed, said Karner. The minister did not want to comment on details reported in the media, citing ongoing investigations.
Updated on 09.08.2024, 09:41
The three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna were cancelled due to an Islamist attack plan. Nevertheless, the fans did not miss the opportunity and sang and danced to the musician’s songs in the streets of the city.
The Freedom Party, however, blamed the People’s Party for the concert cancellations. The ÖVP had left behind an “embarrassing security chaos,” criticized General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz in a press release. This or the associated communication was responsible for the final cancellations. After the warning from abroad, they “waited far too long instead of taking decisive action.” This also endangered the lives of those people who had already been at the stadium one day before the first planned concert. Apparently nothing had been learned from the terrorist attack on November 2, 2020, Schnedlitz concluded: “The ÖVP has seriously managed to drive security completely into the wall.” Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) and the responsible ÖVP ministers are “ready to resign” for the FPÖ.
Three suspects in custody
The 19-year-old suspected supporter of the radical Islamist terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS), who is said to have planned a terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium together with a 17-year-old, is said to have recently denied all the allegations against him. On Monday, the 19-year-old’s defense attorney changed. He will now be represented exclusively by him, Viennese lawyer Werner Tomanek told the APA. He took over the mandate on Friday after a meeting with the parents. He will only comment on the allegations against his client after studying the file, said Tomanek. The lawyer Ina-Christin Stiglitz, in turn, emphasized to the APA that she had a mandate until Monday afternoon: “Of course I had a power of attorney.” Then – probably at the parents’ request – there was a change of defense attorney.
Both the 19-year-old and the 17-year-old are in custody in Wiener Neustadt because of the risk of committing a crime. Another 18-year-old acquaintance of the main suspect was also taken into custody on Sunday. However, he is said to have known nothing about the alleged attack plans. The three concerts planned by pop star Taylor Swift last week were canceled after the terror plans became known. (APA/edited by aks)
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