Alleged IS Terror Network Around Beran A.: Trial Approaches in Vienna

The accused is a 19-year-old Iraqi who is said to have been active as an IS propagandist at least since August 2023. He was active on various social media channels, exchanged views with like-minded individuals in several chat groups about his radical ideology, and spread IS content via his TikTok profile to recruit new members for the terrorist militia. He also pledged allegiance to an IS leader.

"Apart from the clearly identifiable identification of the accused with IS, the following circumstances appear particularly worrying and alarming: On one hand, the accused was in direct contact with IS member Beran A., who - according to his statements - had planned a (bomb) attack on the concerts of the artist Taylor Swift scheduled in Vienna in August 2024," is emphasized in the 20-page indictment. The fact that the accused justified his connection to Beran A. in the investigation with his search for an apartment suggests "a closer connection is feared."

"Particularly Strongly Radicalized IS Sympathizer"

Furthermore, the 19-year-old identified so strongly with the ideological ideas of IS "that he actively urged female chat partners to adhere to Islamist ideas and to wear full veils, and also prohibited them from posting their own pictures or videos," the indictment available to APA states. The prosecutor describes the Iraqi as a "particularly strongly radicalized IS sympathizer, from whom an acute danger to all dissenters apparently emanates."

However, it could not be proven in the investigation that he was involved in the terror plans of Beran A., who resides in the Neunkirchen district, or at least knew about them. Therefore, the Iraqi is only charged with the crimes of terrorist association and criminal organization, and not with specific intended attack targets.

Iraqi Came to Austria During Refugee Crisis

The Iraqi came to Austria with his mother and sister during the refugee crisis in 2015, where the family applied for asylum. The three settled in Vienna, where the young man attended school. Most recently, he worked as an electrical and building technician. He has no prior criminal record. He was arrested two days after Beran A. Since then, he has been in pre-trial detention.

Two other acquaintances, with whom Beran A. allegedly shared his ideology and pursued concrete terror plans, are now known to the public. One of them is Hasan E., a 20-year-old from the district of Bruck an der Leitha, who carried out an attack on the grounds of the Al-Harām Mosque in Mecca on March 11, 2024. He stabbed five people, some of whom were critically injured. The young Lower Austrian is in custody in Saudi Arabia.

Beran A. and Hasan E. are believed to have known each other and maintained close contact at least since May 2023. Since last February, they are said to have planned simultaneous attacks in Mecca, Dubai, and Istanbul at the beginning of the fasting month of Ramadan with a third IS supporter, about whom nothing further is currently known. While Hasan E. carried out his intentions, Beran A. returned from Dubai without having accomplished anything, where he had gone at the beginning of March. No terror attack occurred in Istanbul either.

Another acquaintance of Beran A. is in pre-trial detention in the JA Josefstadt. The now 18-year-old is said to have had knowledge of his terrorist intentions and bomb-making. The investigations by the Vienna public prosecutor's office against Beran A. and the 18-year-old Viennese are still ongoing.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.