Investigations After Shooting at Mosque in Hollabrunn

Shots were also fired at the local office of the Greens in the district town and at a parked car, police spokesman Johann Baumschlager announced on Monday upon request. Possible connections are being examined, and a forensic investigation of the secured projectiles is planned.

The shot at the mosque is believed to have been fired around midnight. Also on the night of Sunday, shots were fired at the car about one and a half kilometers away, Baumschlager described. A projectile was secured. On Monday, two shots at the local office of the Hollabrunn Greens were also reported, which, according to the police spokesman, are believed to have been fired between Friday and Monday.

The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism is investigating. It is being closely examined whether there is a religious or political background to the incidents. The forensic investigation of the secured projectiles will be carried out "so that we know whether they were fired from the same weapon," emphasized Baumschlager. The police also announced increased patrol activity for Hollabrunn.

Suspicious Observations Are Requested

Information - especially suspicious observations on the night of Sunday - can be directed to the Hollabrunn police station. They can be received at the phone number 059 133/3410.

"We condemn such political acts of violence in the strongest terms," reacted Georg Ecker, member of the state parliament and spokesman for the Greens Hollabrunn. Ecker criticized the ÖVP in a written statement, which "recently created an inflammatory atmosphere with advertisements."

Albanian Religious Community and IKG Condemn Shot at Mosque

Previously, the Albanian Religious Community had also spoken out about the shot at the mosque. "The Albanian Muslim community in Austria strongly condemns this act of violence against a religious institution," it said via Facebook. An appeal was made to politics and the public to "refrain from any form of incitement or hate speech against religious institutions and their members." Oskar Deutsch, President of the Jewish Community (IKG), expressed a similar sentiment on Monday on X. "We strongly condemn this attack on a religious institution. Even if the motive is still unclear, a de-escalation of language towards Muslims and other minorities in Austria is overdue."

At the time of the incident, no one was in the mosque premises, and there were no injuries. Shortly before, about six people had left the building. The chairman of the association, who lives on the upper floor of the house, heard a bang shortly after midnight. When he met with another person a little later - independently of this - he discovered the bullet hole in the entrance area, according to police information. The projectile had pierced the frame of the entrance door, went through a room and a double-glazed window, and remained in the courtyard, where it was secured.

(APA/Red)

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