Operated for IS

Escaped prisoner radicalized himself in custody

The suspected supporter of the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS) who escaped from a hospital in Vienna last Friday and was caught the next day by the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN) and has since been back in custody is likely to have become radicalized and active for IS during his last prison sentence. 

The 19-year-old Mahdy C., who escaped from hospital last week, is being investigated by the Wiener Neustadt prosecution authority on suspicion of terrorism and criminal association, whereby the assumed period of the crime relates to the time in which the Austrian with Tunisian roots was serving a prison sentence for robbery and assault in a correctional facility (JA).

Sympathized with IS
This was admitted by the authorities' spokesman Erich Habitzl on Friday afternoon. Habitzl did not answer further questions - such as whether the 19-year-old was only in illegal possession of a cell phone and used it to communicate in relevant chat groups or whether he also wanted to recruit fellow inmates for IS. The spokesperson asked for understanding, saying that no information could be provided "for tactical investigative reasons".

The 19-year-old was in prison until January 2024. After serving his sentence, he was seamlessly taken into custody following investigations into suspected terrorism. "He sympathized with the Islamic State (IS) and wanted to join it," the DSN communicated last weekend regarding the suspected situation.

A potential involvement in the escape by escape helpers cannot be ruled out at present and is currently being investigated.

DSN

Only one prison guard
Regardless of this, the 19-year-old was apparently escorted to an examination appointment at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in Vienna-Leopoldstadt by a single prison officer, where the prisoner managed to escape. In this context, possible misconduct on the part of the officer accompanying him is being investigated. The DSN considers it conceivable that there may have been escape helpers. "A potential involvement in the escape by escape helpers cannot be ruled out at present and is currently being investigated," it said recently. Disciplinary proceedings are underway against the prison guard who was attacked and injured by Mahdy C.