"Very satisfied"

Terror defendant now working as a civilian at refugee aid organization

The 23-year-old is currently working as a civilian servant with the refugee aid organization.(Bild: zVg, Krone KREATIV)

In the retrial of two acquaintances of the Vienna attacker, one of the two men surprised everyone with his current job. The 23-year-old, who was convicted of terrorist association, is currently doing community service. And is working for refugee aid, of all things.

Two acquaintances of the Vienna attacker were no longer on trial for accessory to murder - they were finally acquitted of this - but for terrorist association. They were in the same chat group with him, which shared Salafist content.

"I am a civilian servant. In the refugee service," the younger man said in surprise at the second court hearing in Landl.(Bild: zVg, Krone KREATIV)

I am a civil servant. In the refugee service.

Der Angeklagte im Prozess

The first verdict from the terror trial (24 months each, partially conditional) was overturned by the Supreme Court due to formal errors. Now the sentences are 18 and 21 months respectively. The 24-year-old and the 23-year-old had already served the unconditional part of their sentences in pre-trial detention.

Visited Vienna attackers on the day of the crime
"I am a civilian servant. In the refugee service", the younger man surprises us at the second court hearing in Landl. He had visited the Vienna attacker in his apartment on the afternoon of the day of the crime on November 2, 2020 to bring him back a book.

Specifically, he is now working at a refugee counseling center run by Diakonie Austria in Vienna. According to APA, they knew nothing about his former IS affiliation. But: "They are very happy with him and praise him highly." The 23-year-old has not yet promoted Islam, nor has he been directly involved in working with refugees: "He sits at reception," said a Diakonie spokeswoman.