The Austrian intelligence services prevented a terrorist attack during the pride in Vienna, which took place from 1 to 18 June 2023, according to the Financial Times.
Three young Austrian citizens of Bosnian and Chechen origin planned to attack the participants of the events using pneumatic weapons, sabers and axes. They also considered driving the car into the crowd. The age of the defendants is 14, 17 and 20 years old.
At a press conference of the country's General Directorate of Public Security (DNS), it was announced that the special services had been monitoring the actions of young people for some time. When they began active preparations for the attack, they were detained by law enforcement officials.
It is noted that the young people in question were interested in the ideas of the Islamic State and consumed relevant content on the Internet. They, according to representatives of the DNS, unsuccessfully tried to obtain more lethal weapons.
In November 2020, an Islamist committed a terrorist attack in the center of Vienna, which killed four people and injured 15 others. It was reported that he was a supporter of the Islamic State.
The main event of Vienna Pride 2023 , the "Rainbow Parade", took place on Saturday and attracted over 300,000 people. This is one of the largest LGBTQ+ rights events in Europe.
