Terrorist attack in Vienna: citizens’ initiative prepares public liability suit

The first legal steps are now due to mishaps related to the attack in Vienna: The citizens’ initiative “Wir im Erste” is preparing an official liability suit, its founder and lawyer Karl Newole announced on Friday.

“There are enough indications of the state’s liability in the context of so-called official liability. If the act had been dutiful, the assassination could have been prevented,” says the lawyer. Incidentally, Newole was a member of the cabinet of the former SPÖ Interior Minister Karl Blecha (1983 to 1989), who resigned because of the Lucona and Norica affairs.

Some injured parties have already inquired about the citizens’ initiative, says Newole. These are the survivors of the victims, the injured and those who suffered property damage on Monday’s night of terror.

“Official liability is understood to mean liability for damage caused by state organs in the exercise of their official activities through illegal and culpable conduct or omission,” he explains. According to the lawyer, compensation for funeral costs, mourning and shock damage, maintenance for surviving dependents, compensation for pain and suffering for injured persons, compensation for disability, loss of earnings or property damage could be considered.

Should there be a trial around the night of terror, the legal responsibility of state organs – possibly up to ministerial level – will be clarified, said Newole.

No information on ammunition purchase

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer had come under pressure in the past few days when it became known that the later assassin Kujtim F. had tried to buy ammunition for an AK-47 in Slovakia. The Slovak authorities were in contact with the Austrian authorities about this, but the Office for the Protection of the Constitution did not pass this information on to the judiciary.

Leading lawyers in the country confirm that the attempted purchase of weapons would have been a reason to take Kujtim F. into custody. He had already been convicted and on probation for his involvement in a terrorist organization (see report below).

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