A 20-Year-Old Austrian Terror Suspect Who Received a Prison Sentence for Attempting to Join IS

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The suspect shot dead during the shooting attack that occurred on the evening of the 2nd (local time) in Vienna, Austria, has been identified as a 20-year-old youth who was attempting to join the extremist armed group Islamic State (IS).

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer stated that "it has been confirmed that the attack yesterday was an extremist Islamist terrorist act," and that the suspect who was shot dead was 20-year-old Kuztim Ferzulaj from North Macedonia, who had a history of attempting to join the terrorist organization.

The suspect was caught in April 2019 while trying to join IS in Syria and was sentenced to 22 months in prison. However, he was released in December of the same year under juvenile law.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Nehammer added, "The suspect was armed with an automatic rifle, pistol, knife, and a fake explosive vest to attack innocent citizens," and said that 15 house searches have been conducted so far and several people have been arrested. Authorities are continuing to track other suspects who are highly likely to be on the run.

The Austrian government has decided to hold an official mourning period for three days starting from the 3rd to commemorate the victims of this terrorist attack.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.