A large-scale raid targeting neo-Nazis in Austria
Austrian authorities launched a large-scale operation against the neo-Nazi scene on Tuesday, with searches taking place in Vienna and several other locations. Among those targeted was the well-known far-right activist Gottfried Küssel, whose lawyer confirmed that his home was searched in the early hours of the morning.
Investigations focused on several apartments and rooms belonging to organizations in the second district of Vienna, where Kossl and several of his associates reside. A far-right organization was also registered at the same address, believed to be at the heart of the investigations. Eyewitnesses reported a heavy security presence, and a specialized explosives unit was seen on site, reflecting the seriousness of the operation.
Despite the scale of the raids, no arrests or interrogations were recorded. Kossel's lawyer confirmed that the police conducted the search without detaining anyone. For its part, the State Security and Intelligence Directorate (DSN) clarified that several official procedures were carried out and are still ongoing, but details will not be announced at this time for tactical reasons, and will be revealed later after the investigations are completed in coordination with the public prosecutor.
The Ministry of the Interior described these raids as part of a broader operation targeting far-right networks in Austria. Although the background of the raids remains unclear, they come in the context of a series of threats and extremist activities that have prompted security forces to intervene.
In a separate context, Kossel recently lost a legal battle unrelated to the raids. The Bresse newspaper reported earlier this month that his attempt to obtain a new passport failed after the administrative court rejected his latest appeal, leaving him without a passport or ID card. He had been stripped of his documents in 2016 following his criminal conviction.