Blue criticism of Zadic

Escape of terror suspect becomes a political issue

The suspected IS supporter who escaped from a hospital in Vienna is now back in prison (pictured: Wiener Neustadt prison).(Bild: P. Huber)

The escape of a suspected IS supporter from a hospital in Vienna is now becoming a political issue. The FPÖ accuses Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) of not having the prisons under control. The party also criticizes the ÖVP, as it bears "sole responsibility" for an "extreme immigration policy".

As reported, a 19-year-old prisoner had been transferred from the Wiener Neustadt prison to the one in Vienna-Josefstadt for reasons of illness because it has its own infirmary. The terror suspect used his appointment at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in Vienna on Friday morning to escape from the prison guards. One day later he was arrested again and returned to prison.

Investigation into escape helpers
"The investigators from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution have done an excellent job and once again demonstrated their professionalism", praised Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). It is currently being investigated whether the prisoner had escape helpers. "A potential involvement in the escape by escape helpers cannot yet be ruled out", the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN) announced. It is still unclear whether there was any danger to the public during the escape. The Vienna State Police Directorate referred the matter to the Ministry of Justice.

(Bild: P. Huber)

(Bild: P. Huber)

Minister of Justice Alma Zadic(Bild: APA/Eva Manhart)

This has now been criticized by the FPÖ. "The green cuddly justice under Minister Zadic must now come to an end quickly before anything else bad happens. As this minister simply does not have the prisons under control, she must resign," said FPÖ Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz in a press release.

Series in November
In fact, this is not an isolated case. Just last November, there were a number of escape attempts during escorts to medical appointments. In four out of five cases, the escapees were arrested again, while a 35-year-old inmate from Stein prison is still at large. The Ministry of Justice responded with raids and the decision to tighten security measures.

"This alarming series of mishaps is now becoming highly dangerous. Not only are Islamists in prisons able to communicate unhindered by telephone and organize their terrorist activities, it is also more than easy to escape," said Schnedlitz. The prisons are "overcrowded" and the judicial guards are "very overloaded". Another point of criticism concerns the revoked security orders. Last fall, the General Directorate of Prisons had issued an order to shackle prisoners' arms behind their bodies during medical escorts.