VIENNA: The Austrian government will order the closure of âradicalâ mosques in the wake of a deadly jihadist shooting in the capital Vienna earlier this week, the interior ministry said today.
A ministry spokesman said more details would soon be given at a press conference with Interior Minister Karl Nehammer and Integration Minister Susanne Raab.
Four people were killed in the shooting on Monday, Austriaâs first major attack in decades and its first blamed on a jihadist, identified as 20-year-old Kujtim Fejzulai, who was killed by police.
A statement from the officially recognised Islamic Religious Community of Austria said that in âdiscussion with the relevant authorities, we are closing one mosqueâ.
The statement said the mosque was being shut after information came to light that it had broken rules over âreligious doctrine and its constitutionâ, as well as national legislation governing Islamic institutions.
Also today the Vienna prosecutorâs department told AFP that six of the 16 people detained since the attack have been released, with the rest remaining in custody as the probe into the attackerâs circle continues.
The suspected gunman, dual Austrian-Macedonian national Fejzulai, had previously been convicted for trying to join the Islamic State group in Syria. â AFP
