By EFE
Dec 24, 2023, 16:54 PM EST
VIENNA – Austrian authorities have arrested three people from Islamist circles in Vienna following reports of possible terrorist attacks around Christmas and New Year, public television ORF reported today.
A spokeswoman for the Vienna Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the arrests this Sunday, although she clarified that there are no specific plans to attack targets in Vienna.
The Austrian authorities did not release the identities or nationalities of those detained.
Several homes were searched, where agents seized data carriers, which are analyzed by experts.
The Austrian Police had previously reported that a terrorist call is circulating on the Internet for attacks against Christian events around December 24 in Europe.
“Due to the current threat assessment by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the still high level of terrorist alert, there is generally an increased risk in Austria during the Christmas holidays,” stated the management of the Austrian Police. Vienna.
At the center of the security measures are churches and religious events, as well as Christmas markets, authorities explained.
The Austrian Police assured that security measures are being taken according to the need at all times, including identity control of visitors to Christmas events.
According to photos published by the Austrian electronic press, several police vehicles and numerous armed officers were this Sunday in the vicinity of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, in the heart of Vienna’s old town, an area crowded with tourists at this time of year.
The German newspaper “Bild” had reported this Saturday that the authorities of Germany, Austria and Spain are handling information about possible attacks around Christmas and New Year in Europe.
On November 2, 2020, the center of the Austrian capital was the target of an Islamist attack in which four people died and twenty were injured.