Terror trial in Vienna

27-year-old denies his stay in Syria in court

At the terror trial in Vienna against the young Chechen, there is great media interest and even greater security measures.

(Bild: zVg, Krone KREATIV)

A young IS sympathizer is said to have travelled to Syria as early as 2014 - at the age of 18 - and joined the terrorist organization there as a fighter. This is proven by a data sheet that has emerged. However, the document is not sufficient for a conviction.

An unusually large number of prison guards line courtroom 11 in Vienna's provincial court. Even the judge notices: "Are you that dangerous? Obviously so, when I look at the crowd here," she addresses the 27-year-old defendant at the beginning of the trial - who is presented with ankle cuffs and handcuffs attached to a waist belt.

Judicial officers attacked with a butter knife
And rightly so, because the young man has a considerable criminal record. "You've been in custody for 14 years pretty seamlessly," summarizes the chairwoman. Most recently, he had to face a jury court in Krems for the attempted murder of an officer in Stein prison. Shouting "Allahu Akbar", he attacked the guard with a sharpened butter knife, aiming for his neck. In July 2022, he was finally sentenced to six years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

However, he had previously promised to support IS from Austria.

Staatsanwältin über den Angeklagten (27)

Traveled to Syria as an IS fighter?
The allegations now being discussed in Vienna are said to have occurred before the Chechen was sentenced to prison. In the summer of 2014, the accused had traveled to Syria and joined IS there. This is evidenced by a data sheet of the terrorist organization, on which a similar name with the same date of birth appears. He had put a cross next to the "Fighter" function.

Following an appeal by his parents, the 27-year-old is said to have returned to Austria after about two weeks. IS propaganda such as torture videos were also found on the accused. "However, he had previously promised to support IS from Austria," said the public prosecutor.

§ Section 278b StGB Terrorist organization

(1) Anyone who leads a terrorist organization shall be punished with a prison sentence of five to 15 years.

(2) Anyone who participates in a terrorist organization as a member shall be punished with imprisonment of one to ten years.

(3) A terrorist organization is a long-term association of more than two persons which is aimed at one or more members of this association committing one or more terrorist offences or financing terrorism

27-year-old Chechen was merely visiting his girlfriend
Completely far-fetched, says defense lawyer Florian Kreiner. "My client crossed the Bulgarian border on June 9, 2014 and the border to Turkey on June 10. That's the only thing we know objectively." He had visited a friend in Istanbul, says the accused himself - without luggage, without telling his parents. And he also did not know the surname of said girlfriend.

Nevertheless, lawyer Kreiner criticizes: "I have already conducted many terror trials at home. There has never been so little or no evidence." And the evidence is not sufficient for the panel of lay judges either. The 27-year-old will not be legally acquitted in case of doubt.