An attack on a Linz police station has led to charges of attempted murder and property damage against a 29-year-old Albanian Islamist, who faces life imprisonment if convicted.
The suspect, who investigators say was driven by the radical ideology, smashed through the police station’s security gate with a machete while shouting “Allahu Akbar” and allegedly intended to kill multiple officers.
As reported by Bild, the incident occurred at night in early September. Armed with a large bush knife, the suspect threatened officers and struck the security glass window separating the station’s entrance from the guardroom approximately 50 times, according to police spokesperson Jürgen Fachinger.
His alleged goal was to murder the officer sitting inside.
Despite the ferocity of the assault, the locked security door between the entrance and the interior of the station prevented the suspect from advancing further. The officer on duty quickly secured the entrance door, effectively trapping the assailant in the vestibule.
Undeterred, the man continued his rampage, smashing windows and doors while issuing death threats against police officers and threatening to take his own life. Efforts to calm him via the station’s intercom system were unsuccessful.
The Special Operations Command (SEK) was dispatched to the scene. Officers subdued the man using a taser before taking him into custody.
Attorney General Kruse confirmed that the investigation uncovered signs of radical Islamist motivation. Inside the suspect’s apartment, police discovered an Islamic State (IS) flag painted on the wall. However, no evidence has emerged suggesting direct contact with IS members.
The prosecutor’s office alleges that the suspect targeted police officers as representatives of a society he despised, a society that clashed with his “global political ideas.” This ideological hostility, combined with the violent attack, resulted in charges of attempted murder.
In addition to attempted murder, the suspect faces charges of property damage. The rampage caused approximately €70,000 in damage to the police station. Despite the gravity of the charges, the suspect has refused to comment on the allegations.
If convicted, the Albanian migrant could face life imprisonment.
The suspect remains in custody pending trial. Authorities continue to investigate any further ties to extremist networks, although none have been confirmed so far.
