Bomb alert at jihadist trial in Graz, Austria – The court suspects sympathisers of the jihadist behind the threat

The trial of the Islamic hate preacher Mirsad O. and three followers was supposed to take place today at the Graz Criminal Court. On Monday morning, however, there was a bomb threat. The court suspects sympathisers of the jihadist behind the threat.

There was a bomb threat in the Graz Criminal Court on Monday morning in connection with a jihadist trial. The trial was interrupted, the courtroom was cleared and searched by a special team. The perpetrators could be sympathisers of the accused Islamist preacher, the court suspected. Another threat was reported in St. Pölten, the newspaper “Kleine Zeitung” reported online. According to court spokeswoman Barbara Schwarz, there had been threats throughout Austria, which the Ministry of Justice did not confirm at first when asked by Austrian Press Agency APA.

In addition to the Serbian-born hate preacher Mirsad O., the chairman of the Taqwa mosque in Graz, the treasurer of the Taqwa association and a woman are also accused. The trial is being retried for the third time. The accused are alleged to have recruited several families and organised their journey to the Islamic State in Syria. The charge of “anti-state association” had to be retried after a partial reversal of the verdict in July 2021, and the convictions relating to terrorist association and criminal organisation are final. The sentences were also significantly increased: The preacher now has to serve eight years instead of five, the treasurer of the association seven years, the chairman six years, and the wife of the treasurer was sentenced to six years instead of three.

https://exxpress.at/bombenalarm-bei-jihadisten-prozess-in-graz/