Austria Repeatedly in the Crosshairs of Terrorists

On November 2, the attack in downtown Vienna marks its fifth anniversary. A then 20-year-old Islamist opened fire in the "Bermuda Triangle," a well-known party area. Although he was shot by the police after only nine minutes, he killed four people and injured over 20 others. Since the most severe terrorist act in recent Austrian history, terrorist-motivated attacks or attack plans have repeatedly made headlines.

Terrorist Attack on Vienna Westbahnhof Prevented

February 15, 2025: In an Islamist-motivated knife attack in Villach, a 23-year-old Syrian killed a 14-year-old and injured several other people. The perpetrator was arrested after being stopped by a 41-year-old - also Syrian - with a car. During his interrogation, he stated that he carried out the attack in the name of the radical terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS). The investigations into this have now been completed.

February 10, 2025: Police and intelligence services arrest a 14-year-old who allegedly planned an attack on the Vienna Westbahnhof. Several knives and propaganda material were found in his possession. In July, the almost childlike IS supporter is sentenced to two years at the Vienna Regional Court for terrorist association and criminal organization, with eight months of the sentence being unconditional.

Swift Concerts in Vienna Canceled Due to Planned Terror Attack

August 7, 2024: In connection with attack plans for events in the greater Vienna area - the police mention the upcoming Taylor Swift concerts - a 19-year-old in Ternitz (Neunkirchen district) and later a man in Vienna are arrested. The 19-year-old is said to have "pledged allegiance to IS," and according to the police, chemical substances were also secured. The concerts are canceled. There remains an "abstract" threat. It later becomes known that the 19-year-old was allegedly part of a terror network that planned attacks in Mecca, Istanbul, and Dubai. The one in Mecca was also carried out.

December 24, 2023: The intelligence service arrests four terror suspects for allegedly planning an attack on St. Stephen's Cathedral. In May 2024, they are released from pre-trial detention due to a lack of urgent suspicion and are to be deported. One of the suspects is found dead in his cell in a police detention center (PAZ) in July before his planned deportation to Dagestan.

September 11, 2023: A 16-year-old Islamist plans to carry out a knife attack at Vienna's main train station but ultimately does not execute the act. In April 2024, he is sentenced to two years in prison for membership in a terrorist organization, with eight months being unconditional. He was only briefly free before he again engaged in IS propaganda, for which he was sentenced to two years unconditionally.

Terror Alert Before Vienna Pride Parade in June 2023

June 2023: The day after the Pride Parade for LGBTIQ rights on June 17, the Directorate of State Protection and Intelligence Service (DSN) announces that three online-radicalized suspects sympathetic to the Islamic State (IS) were arrested before the event began. It is said that the three young men wanted to carry out an attack "with a knife or vehicle" on the "Pride." They are released after a few days. Meanwhile, the brothers are being prosecuted, and the youngest of the three was conditionally sentenced to six months.

2021: As it became known two years later through the constitutional protection report, a right-wing extremist planned an attack on the KPÖ's Volksstimmefest in Vienna's Prater in 2021. The man was taken into pre-trial detention after a house search in the summer of 2021 and was legally convicted under the Prohibition Act and Paragraph 283 of the Criminal Code (incitement). There is criticism that the KPÖ was not informed about the corresponding attack plans at that time.

November 2, 2020: An Islamist attacker opens fire on passersby and guests in Vienna's party district "Bermuda Triangle." Although the man is shot dead by the police after a short time, the attack claims four lives and injures 22 people. The perpetrator is identified as a 20-year-old Austrian with dual North Macedonian citizenship. The supporter of the terrorist militia "Islamic State" had a previous conviction for attempting to travel to Syria.

Terror Alert in Austria Even Before Vienna Terror Attack 2020

March 12, 2018: A 26-year-old man attacks a military guard at the Iranian embassy in Vienna with a knife and is shot dead. According to the police, the perpetrator, who had completed his military service with the army, harbored sympathies for political Islam.

June 30, 2017: A native Tunisian murders an elderly couple in Linz. The then Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) reports shortly thereafter of an alleged connection of the perpetrator to the "Islamic State" (IS). However, the man is acquitted of membership in a terrorist organization and is committed to an institution for mentally abnormal lawbreakers. He himself states as a motive that he wanted to set an example to society and the FPÖ, by whom he felt discriminated against as a foreigner and Muslim.

May 24, 2009: In an attack by fundamentalist Sikhs on a temple in Vienna-Rudolfsheim, a guru who had traveled from India is killed, and nine other people are seriously injured. The main perpetrator receives a life sentence in 2010, and four accomplices receive 17 and 18 years in prison, respectively.

January 13, 2009: Umar Israilow, a bodyguard of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov who fled to Austria, is shot dead in broad daylight in Vienna-Floridsdorf. The alleged gunman manages to flee to Russia, and three accomplices receive long prison sentences in 2012.

Letter Bomb Attacks Occurred 20 Years Ago

April 11, 1995: In a failed attack on a high-voltage pylon in Ebergassing near Vienna, the two allegedly left-wing radical attackers Gregor Thaler and Peter Konicek die.

February 4, 1995: A pipe bomb planted by right-wing extremist Franz Fuchs kills four Roma in Oberwart. Josef Simon, Peter Sarközi, Karl Horvath, and Erwin Horvath are thus the victims of the most consequential domestically motivated attack in Austria to date. Fuchs, the author of further pipe and letter bombs with numerous serious injuries, is captured in 1997 and commits suicide in custody in 2000.

July 13, 1989: Iranian agents shoot dead three high-ranking Kurdish politicians, including Abdul-Rahman Ghassemlou, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan-Iran (DPK-I), in a private apartment in Vienna. The perpetrators manage to hide in the Iranian embassy and are allowed to leave the country unmolested after interventions from Tehran - one is even escorted to Schwechat Airport under police protection.

Terrorist Attack at Vienna-Schwechat Airport Marks 40th Anniversary

December 27, 1985: In an attack by the Palestinian Abu Nidal group on the counter of the Israeli airline El Al at Vienna Airport, three passengers and one attacker are killed, 38 people are injured. In a simultaneous attack in Rome, there are 16 fatalities.

November 19, 1984: Turkish diplomat Enver Ergun is shot dead in his car on Vienna's Schottenring. The perpetrator manages to escape. Armenian extremists claim responsibility for the attack. Already on June 20, another Turkish diplomat had become a victim of an attack.

August 29, 1981: A Palestinian terror commando attacks the synagogue in Vienna's Seitenstettengasse. Pensioner Nathan Fried and 25-year-old Ulrike Kohut are killed, numerous people are injured. Police and the industrialist Leopold Böhm's bodyguard, who was present by chance, prevent a worse bloodbath. The perpetrators - also responsible for the murder of Nittel (see below) - are arrested.

May 1, 1981: The Palestinian Abu Nidal group murders Vienna city councilor and president of the Austrian-Israeli Society, Heinz Nittel (SPÖ).