VIENNA: Austrian police tightened security measures at several sensitive sites in the country’s capital on Wednesday after its intelligence service received information that indicated a possible extremist attack.
“Our intelligence services have reason to believe that an assault with an Islamistic motive is planned to be carried out in Vienna,” the police wrote on Twitter.
“As a precautionary measure” particularly sensitive “points of interest have been put under increased guard by regular and special operation police forces,” Vienna police said.
After initially warning of a “non-specific threat” of an attack against churches in Vienna that caused widespread confusion among the public, the police later specified that not only Christian churches “but also houses of worship of various confessions” are concerned.
The police said the precautionary measures would remain in place “until further notice.”
In case of imminent danger “at a certain location, we’ll issue a warning immediately,” the police added.
In the wake of Austria’s first deadly miltant attack in 2020, the Alpine nation adopted a heavily criticized anti-terror law that allows for increased surveillance.
Convicted Daesh group sympathizer Kujtim Fejzulai went on a shooting rampage on November 2, 2020 in downtown Vienna, killing four and wounding 23 others before police shot him dead.
Last month a Vienna court sentenced two alleged accomplices of Fejzulai to life in prison, while two others received prison terms of 19 and 20 years.
Vienna police tighten security over terrorist attack threat
https://arab.news/4fry3
Vienna police tighten security over terrorist attack threat
- The police said the precautionary measures would remain in place "until further notice"
- In case of imminent danger "at a certain location, we'll issue a warning immediately," the police added
Kyiv ready for talks ‘next week’ with US over Russia proposals: Zelensky
- “Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats,” said Zelensky.
- “It is important that there are results and that the meetings take place“
KYIV: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday his negotiators were waiting to hear from the United States on further meetings about ending the war with Russia.
Zelensky’s remarks in his evening address appeared to suggest that a second round of talks scheduled to start in Abu Dhabi on Sunday between US, Russian and Ukrainian officials on ending the fighting had been postponed.
“Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats,” said Zelensky.
“It is important that there are results and that the meetings take place. We are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for them.”
Zelensky was speaking as US envoy Steve Witkoff said he had had “productive and constructive” talks with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Florida on Saturday.
Teams from Ukraine and Russia met Friday and Saturday last week in Abu Dhabi in their first in-person negotiations on a plan being pushed by President Donald Trump to end the war.
They had agreed to resume talks there on Sunday.
On Thursday however, Zelensky suggested that the date and venue could change given the current tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The US says both sides are close to a deal, but they have so far been unable to find a compromise on the key issue of territory in a post-war settlement, according to Kyiv.
