Terrorism Suspects Possibly Using Ukraine as Entry Point into EU, Claims Austrian News Outlet
Austria’s Heute news outlet has suggested that Ukraine may be serving as a clandestine gateway for violent extremists seeking access to the European Union. Citing security officials, the outlet reported on Sunday that a significant number of suspected terrorists have entered the EU through Ukrainian territory.
The report highlighted the case of two Tajik nationals and a Chechen who were apprehended in Austria and Germany in December of the previous year. These individuals were suspected of planning an attack on Vienna’s renowned St Stephen’s Cathedral, allegedly intending to carry out the assault on New Year’s Eve using Kalashnikov assault rifles and explosives.
According to Heute, these suspects may have connections to a broader terrorist network associated with IS Khorasan Province (ISIS-K or ISPK), an Islamic State offshoot. This group purportedly claimed responsibility for a recent attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, resulting in over 130 fatalities and 180 injuries.
Austrian prosecutors revealed in December that the Vienna plot suspects exhibited high levels of radicalization and held jihadist beliefs. They were also allegedly part of a network planning attacks in Cologne and Madrid towards the end of 2023.
While no official confirmation has been provided, Heute suggested that there are indications of suspected terrorists slipping into Europe unnoticed from Ukraine. The report speculated that individuals involved in the Moscow attack may have ties to like-minded groups operating in Ukrainian territory.
The Tajik couple implicated in the Vienna plot reportedly resided in Ukraine until the onset of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022. They claimed to have been pro-democracy activists advocating for the rule of law in Tajikistan. However, intercepted communications on Facebook revealed their discussions of attack plans and allegiance to ISIS-K.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled the Crocus City Hall attack as the work of radical Islamists, though the orchestrators remain unidentified. Putin hinted at Ukraine’s potential involvement, citing reports that the assailants attempted to cross into Ukraine following the massacre and may have had contacts facilitating their passage.
The Russian domestic security service (FSB) disclosed that the four suspected attackers had sought to reach the Ukrainian border post-attack. These developments underscore concerns over potential links between terrorism and Ukraine’s role as an entry point into Europe.