"Kill infidels"

14-year-old planned attack in Graz city center

The Jakominiplatz in Graz

(Bild: Kronen Zeitung)

A 14-year-old girl wanted to carry out a bloodbath on Jakominiplatz in Graz! Investigators found weapons and horrific beheading videos during house searches. The schoolgirl's goal: to destroy infidels!

According to the police, the girl had already bought weapons such as a hatchet, a knife and clothing in order to attack people indiscriminately on Jakominiplatz in Graz. She sent pictures of her attack plans to like-minded people abroad via Telegram. The attack was intended to target "infidels", as the police announced on Saturday. The plan was for her to go after innocent people, completely clad in black, with an axe and knife, kill as many as possible and then execute herself once the plan had been fulfilled. According to police press spokesman Fritz Grundnig, it is not known exactly when the attack was supposed to take place. But: "We assume that it was imminent."

Fight and execution videos found
Styrian state security officers were able to track down the 14-year-old girl from Montenegro, who lives in Graz, thanks to information from European security authorities. They became aware of the chats and informed the Austrian authorities. The State Office for State Protection and Counter-Extremism then targeted the 14-year-old, who was born in Montenegro, lives in Graz but does not yet have Austrian citizenship. A house search was carried out on the orders of the public prosecutor's office in Graz, says Grundnig.  

The weapons, clothing and data carriers in question were seized there. The investigators also came across IS propaganda material with numerous combat and execution videos. She was arrested on Saturday evening.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, she did not confess during her interrogation on the advice of her lawyer. Her parents were also present during her interrogation. According to the current state of the investigation, they were probably unaware of their daughter's terrible plans. The 14-year-old was taken to Graz-Jakomini prison and remanded in custody.

Reactions from the world of politics
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasizes: "The Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Austria is taking consistent action against all forms of extremism. My thanks go above all to the investigators of the State Office for State Protection and Counter Extremism in Styria. Thanks to their efforts, an extremist attack could be prevented."

Governor Christopher Drexler says: "Islamism, radicalism and hatred of others must not have a single millimeter of space in our society. This requires vigilance and prevention work, but also penalties and measures that do justice to this inconceivable radicalism. I therefore reiterate my call for an Austria-wide criminal law convention to be held. Tough penalties are needed to make it clear to such people - especially young offenders - how strongly our society and our constitutional state abhor this attitude and take action against them."

Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) also speaks out: "Once again, Styria is at the center of the effects of unbridled immigration and the dangers of political Islam. We need a decisive stance against supporters of radical Islam and the swift introduction of a law banning political Islam in Austria."