Vienna Attack

Why in news?

The attack in Vienna that killed four people underscores the transnational threat European countries face from Islamist terrorists.

What had happened?

• In Vienna, the suspected gunman, who is of Albanian origin, was a dual citizen of Austria and North Macedonia.
• He had a previous terrorism conviction.
• In 2019, he was imprisoned after he tried to join the Islamic State.
• But, he was released because of his age.

What are the questions that arise?

• The immediate question the Austrian authorities face would be about the failure in preventing the attack.
• There is a question about how did a terrorism convict slip off the security radar and launch an attack in the capital city.
• Austria will also have to plug the security loopholes as several countries in the continent have raised the threat levels.
• The larger challenge is how to address the issue of radicalisation among youth and counter attempts to disrupt the social cohesion of the continent.

What are the terrorists trying to do?

• Jihadists use violence to create social discord.
• They unleash violence on the public in the name of Islam.
• In response, the rising Islamophobic, nationalist parties in Europe seize on such incidents to bolster their fortunes.
• This is a two-front attack on the democratic and secular values Europe stands for — and that is what the terrorists want.

What could be done?

• Leaders of France, Austria and other terror-hit countries should not allow the jihadists to have their way.
• They should clamp down on terror networks, isolate and punish the jihadists.
• They should counter the ideology of political Islamists and build on the values of pluralism, secularism, democracy and equality.
• Deradicalisation efforts should be step up with help from communities.

Source: The Hindu