VZCZCXYZ0018
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHVI #3923/01 3541205
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201205Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1889
INFO RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS VIENNA 003923 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT RHONDA SHORE, ED SALAZAR AND EUR/AGS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC KCRM KHLS EFIN KHLS KPAO AU
SUBJECT: Austria: 2005 Country Report on Terrorism 
 
REF:  STATE 193439 
 
Embassy Point of Contact: Michael DeTar, Pol Unit chief 
Email: DeTarMR@state.gov 
 
General Assessment 
------------------ 
 
¶1.  Austria has been a constructive ally in the fight 
against terrorism.  Austria has shown leadership in 
regional anti-terrorism initiatives and in ongoing 
efforts to tighten controls on suspected terrorism 
financing. 
 
¶2.  Austria is forthcoming and diligent in implementing 
asset freeze decisions pursuant to UN Security Council 
resolutions and EU "Clearinghouse" designations. 
Austria's legal and institutional framework includes 
comprehensive money laundering and terrorist financing 
legislation that complies with FATF 40+9 Recommendations. 
Through November 2005, the Austrian Financial 
Intelligence Unit and the Federal Agency for State 
Protection and Counterterrorism (BVT) received 24 reports 
on suspected terrorism financing transactions.  This was 
a significant increase over 2004, and was largely due to 
improved banking control mechanisms and better 
international cooperation. 
 
¶3.  New legislation, which takes effect on January 1, 
2006, introduces criminal liability for all legal 
entities, including partnerships and economic interest 
groupings.  The law covers all crimes listed in the 
criminal code, including corruption, money laundering and 
terrorist financing. 
 
Sanctuary Assessment 
-------------------- 
 
¶4.  Austria is not a known sanctuary for terrorist 
groups.  The BVT closely monitors visits to or transits 
through Austria of individuals they suspect of having 
connections to terrorist organizations.   Austrian 
authorities generally maintain that radicalized Muslims 
do not pose an immediate security threat in Austria. 
Austria's official Muslim community has convincingly 
condemned past terrorist attacks, including the London 
subway bombings of July 2005. 
 
¶5.  In the wake of the July 2005 London bombings, the 
Interior Ministry's intelligence arm, the Federal Office 
for the Protection of the Constitution and for Terrorism 
(BVT), again stepped up surveillance of suspected Islamic 
extremists.  In 2005, Austria began implementing its 2004 
legislation permitting police video surveillance of 
public spaces. 
 
¶6.  In 2005, Austria amended its immigration laws to 
include more restrictive legal tools against foreign visa 
holders who are suspected of terrorist links, of 
extremist preaching or incitement, or against individuals 
sympathizing with terrorist acts.  However, Austria 
remains an entry point for illegal immigration from the 
Balkans. 
 
¶7.  A legislative package introduced in July 2005 
earmarked 105 million Euro for terrorism prevention 
measures and related research through the year 2013; 5 
million euros have been earmarked for the year 2005; 12 
million euros for 2006. 
 
¶8.  In 2005, Austria began an investigation into 
potential terrorist recruitment in prisons and refugee 
camps.  This became a concern following a surge of 
Chechen asylum seekers entering Austria in 2004. 
 
Terrorist Groups 
---------------- 
 
¶9.  The BVT singles out a handful of suspected extremist 
mosques in Vienna for increased monitoring.  It continues 
surveillance of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad movement and 
of suspected Afghan extremists entering Austria as asylum 
seekers. 
 
¶10.  According to the BVT, there are a few immigrant 
Muslims who sympathize with groups such as the Muslim 
Brotherhood (Al-Ikhwan al Muslimin), the Al-Gama'a al- 
islamiya, and the "Global Revolution" group (Hizb ut- 
tahrir al-islamiyya). The BVT believes there are also 
some who supporter the "Active Islamic Youth" group 
(Aktiva Islamska Omladina).  Some Turks in Austria 
support the Turkish jihadist Metin Kaplan, the "Caliph of 
Cologne." There are also some sympathizers of the Iranian 
People's Modjahedin (Modjahedin-e-Khalq).  Among 
Palestinians in Austria, there are supporters of Hamas, 
as well as of the "Salafiyya Jihadiyya." 
 
Cooperation with the U.S. 
------------------------ 
 
¶11.  In 2005, Austria continued its participation in 
multilateral peacekeeping missions.  It maintained its 
operational cooperation with U.S. law enforcement and 
counterterrorism authorities.  The visit of Austrian 
Interior Minister Prokop to the U.S. in October 2005 
solidified this relationship.  Prokop met with National 
Intelligence Director John Negroponte, Attorney General 
Alberto Gonzales, Department of Homeland Security 
Secretary Michael Chertoff, CIA Director Porter Goss and 
 
SIPDIS 
FBI Director Robert Mueller.  Among other topics, the 
parties discussed the danger of recruitment of terrorists 
on European soil, as well as ways to intensify exchange 
of fingerprint and DNA data.  Austrian and U.S. 
authorities maintain an exchange of know-how on the use 
of air marshals. 
 
¶12.  During 2005, Austria maintained four police 
instructors at the Iraqi Police Academy in Jordan to help 
train Iraqi police.  In Afghanistan, Austria temporarily 
deployed 93 soldiers to the International Security 
Assistance Force (ISAF) to help provide security for the 
September 2005 elections. Additionally, Austria committed 
4 liaison officers to the ISAF headquarters in Kabul and 
two advisors to the United Nations Assistance Mission in 
Afghanistan (UNAMA). 
 
¶13.  Austria in 2005 began working toward establishment 
of a "security cordon" with countries bordering the EU 
through individual "security partnerships," with a focus 
on countries of the southeastern Mediterranean. 
 
¶14.  Austria, together with the U.S. and the EU, operates 
two anti-terrorism-related training programs for 
countries in Central Asia: the Central Asian Border 
Initiative (CABSI) and the Vienna Central Asia Initiative 
(VICA). 
 
¶15.  Within the UN program against terrorism, Austria has 
pledged a total of USD 1 million for the period 2002- 
¶2006. It is a "major donor country" to the UN's Vienna- 
based anti-terrorism and anti-drug office, the United 
Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP). 
 
¶16.  Austrian authorities continued to be responsive to 
U.S. requests for protection of U.S. facilities in the 
country.  The Regional Security Office (RSO) has 
strengthened its working relationship with Austrian 
police intelligence units concerning potential terrorist 
threats against USG personnel and facilities in Austria. 
RSO has received significantly increased Austrian police 
protection for Tri-Mission facilities after the September 
11 attacks.  In addition, RSO has a functional liaison 
with the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defensive Unit 
of the Austrian Army for timely support in the event of a 
nuclear, chemical or biological attack on Embassy 
facilities.  Austrian authorities routinely lend positive 
and quick security support in connection with anti-U.S. 
demonstrations near the embassy.  Austrian security 
assistance in connection with protests against the U.S. 
policies has been entirely satisfactory. 
 
McCAW