Afghan gang rapes shatter Vienna's civilized café society



Austria is often depicted as a land of absolute bliss — a paradise where the sound of music fills the air and the Alps soar high. The capital, Vienna, known for its stunning architecture and its countless cafés, exudes an air of sophistication.

But beneath this postcard-perfect image, a far darker reality has emerged. Yodeling has turned into shrieking as gang violence grips the streets.

In February, in the space of just 24 hours, three women werestabbed to death by a 27-year-old Afghan national.

In short, “The Land of Dreams” is consumed by nightmares that threaten its very identity. Many of these nightmares have been — and continue to be — triggered by Barbarian-like migrants.

The escalating violence has sparked outrage. National elections are just a few weeks away. The Central European nation is in a state of existential upheaval, with solutions on offer that would have seemed unthinkable just a decade ago.

Boots on the ground

This brings us to the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which recently turned heads both domestically and abroad with a controversial proposal: Deploy the military to restore law and order.

The FPÖ has been riding high in public opinion since 2022, positioning itself as the champion of terrified Austrians. Its message is clear: Take back control of the country and do so with swift and decisive action. The message is resonating. As I write this, the FPÖis leading with 27% of the vote, while the center-right ÖVP trails closely behind at 23%.

Gang-rape diplomacy

Should the FPÖ come out on top, it will face significant challenges. Recent data, for instance,reveal a notable increase in crime rates within Vienna’s districts with large immigrant populations. According to the latest police statistics, the Austrian capital experiences an average of 460 crimes daily. Of these incidents, roughly 52% involve migrants, most from Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries.

When it comes to imported rape and murder, Austria is clearly catching up to its neighbor Germany.

In one particularly shocking incident from 2017, three Afghan asylum seekers gang-raped a woman at a train station.

In 2021, three Afghan migrants assaulted a 13-year-old girl and forced her to take enough drugs that she overdosed and died. Her body was later found wrapped in a carpet and left by a tree.

Of course, Afghans don’t have a monopoly on monstrous acts. In another shocking case, an Austrian court sentenced eight Iraqi men for the gang rape of a German tourist during New Year’s celebrations in Vienna.

In majority-Muslim countries like Afghanistan, Iraq,Syria, and Pakistan, gang rape is not uncommon, particularly when used as a method of punishment. In some cases, these acts are framed as a way to enforce "moral codes" or as retribution for perceived slights against family honor.

The concept of "honor" plays a significant role in these societies, where women are often seen as the bearers of family reputation. If a woman is perceived to have engaged in behavior that brings shame to her family — whether through accusations of infidelity, inappropriate relationships, or even simply being seen in the wrong company — gang rape can be inflicted as a form of retribution. Sometimes the victim is punished for the perceived transgressions of another.

An infamous example of this is Mukhtar Mai, a young Pakistani woman who wasgang-raped in 2002 on the orders of a tribal council. She was accused of no crime; the punishment was in response to a crime her brother allegedly committed. The attack was intended to humiliate her and her family.

Austria’s future?

While such practices might be considered normal in their countries of origin, they are shocking and horrifying to anyone with a moral compass in a civilized society like Austria.

Often, this depravity takes on a dangerous political dimension. Last month, Austrian authorities uncovered a disturbing plot by Islamic fundamentalists to target Taylor Swift concerts in the capital. Officials revealed that one of the would-be mass murderersadmitted to planning to "kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”

While this threat was averted, violence elsewhere remains relentless. In February, in the space of just 24 hours, three women werestabbed to death by a 27-year-old Afghan national.

Clearly, this is no longer the Austria of Johann Strauss and Gustav Klimt. The coming election will be more than a vote on who leads the country — it will be a referendum on Austria's very survival.

Third suspect — an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen — arrested in connection with foiled Taylor Swift concert terror plot in Austria



A third suspect — an 18-year-old Iraqi citizen — has been arrested in connection with a foiled Taylor Swift concert terror plot in Austria, ABC News reported.

The third suspect was taken into custody Thursday evening in Vienna after allegedly being in contact with a 19-year-old Austrian citizen — the main suspect — Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said Friday, according to the news network.

The main suspect 'wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made,' Haijawi-Pirchner added to the AP.

A 17-year-old suspected accomplice — another Austrian citizen — also has been arrested, and Karner said “intensive investigations” are continuing, ABC News reported. Authorities detained and interrogated a 15-year-old Turkish citizen, but that individual is not considered a suspect the news network said.

Swift's shows that had been scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna were canceled for safety reasons.

What else do we know?

Officials said the 19-year-old Austrian suspect began working on his terror plot in July and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group militia, the Associated Press reported.

He was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, according to the outlet.

The main suspect "wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made," Haijawi-Pirchner added to the AP.

Concert organizers told the outlet they were expecting up to 65,000 Swift fans inside the stadium at each show — and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside the stadium.

Karner told the AP that the foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, and the outlet added that neither the 19-year-old suspect nor the 17-year-old suspect appeared to have a ticket to any of Swift's shows.

More from the AP:

During a raid of the main suspect’s home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated “concrete preparatory acts,” said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

The AP's story referenced the deadly July 29 mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport, England, during which a 17-year-old male was accused of killing three and injuring numerous other victims. Swift at the time said she was ‘’completely in shock’’ over the attack, the AP reported.

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive in the Southport knife attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and have spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

However, now-suspended U.K. Labour Party Councillor Ricky Jones reportedly was arrested this week on suspicion of encouraging murder of anti-immigration protesters after an outdoor speech in London in front of a rabid, far-left crowd during which he hollered, "They are disgusting, nasty fascists, and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all!" A video of the speech shows him sliding his finger across his neck as he spoke; he then led a “free, free Palestine!" chant.

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, earlier this week opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

ISIS took credit for a 2017 bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, the AP said, adding that more than 100 were injured, and Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry concluded that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act fast enough on key intelligence and missed a chance to prevent the bombing, the AP added.

Swift is expected to perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her Eras Tour, the AP said.

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19-year-old Taylor Swift concert plotter, radicalized by Islamic State, wanted to 'kill as many people as possible': Police



The arrested 19-year-old Taylor Swift concert plotter was radicalized by the Islamic State, "thinks it is right to kill infidels," and confessed he wanted to "kill as many people as possible," the Associated Press reported, citing Austrian authorities.

Swift's shows scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna were canceled Wednesday for safety reasons.

'Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.'

Officials said the 19-year-old Austrian suspect began working on his terror plot in July and just a few weeks ago uploaded to the internet an oath of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group militia, the AP said.

He was “clearly radicalized in the direction of the Islamic State and thinks it is right to kill infidels,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence, according to the outlet.

The suspect "wanted to carry out an attack in the area outside the stadium, killing as many people as possible using the knives or even using the explosive devices he had made," Haijawi-Pirchner added to the AP.

Concert organizers told the outlet they were expecting up to 65,000 Swift fans inside the stadium at each show — and as many as 30,000 onlookers outside the stadium.

The foiled attack was planned for Thursday or Friday, Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, told the AP. The outlet added that neither the 19-year-old suspect nor a second suspect, a 17-year-old, appeared to have a ticket to any of Swift's shows.

More from the AP:

During a raid of the main suspect’s home in Ternitz, south of Vienna, investigators found chemical substances and technical devices that indicated “concrete preparatory acts,” said Franz Ruf, Director General for Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior.

Authorities also found Islamic State group and al-Qaida material at the home of the second suspect, a 17-year-old Austrian. He was employed a few days ago by a company providing services at the venue for the concerts, and was arrested by special police forces near the stadium.

Karner said no other suspects are being sought, the outlet noted, although police interrogated a 15-year-old who had been in contact with both suspects.

The AP said Swift and her team haven't publicly addressed the plot or canceled shows.

The outlet in its story referenced the deadly July 29 mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport, England, during which a 17-year-old male was accused of killing three and injuring numerous other victims. Swift at the time said she was ‘’completely in shock’’ over the attack, the AP reported.

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive in the Southport knife attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and have spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, on Tuesday opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

ISIS took credit for a 2017 bombing attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, the AP said, adding that more than 100 were injured and Abedi died in the explosion.

An official inquiry concluded that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act fast enough on key intelligence and missed a chance to prevent the bombing, the AP added.

Swift is expected to perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium between Aug. 15 and 20 to close the European leg of her Eras Tour, the AP said.

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Terror suspect, 19, who pledged allegiance to ISIS arrested over alleged attack plot targeting Taylor Swift shows in Austria



A 19-year-old terror suspect who pledged allegiance to ISIS was arrested Wednesday morning in Austria over an alleged attack plot targeting now-canceled Taylor Swift shows this week in Vienna.

A second suspect in the alleged plot, who also reportedly radicalized himself online, was arrested later in the day, ABC News reported.

The 19-year-old has 'North Macedonian roots' and 'lived with his family in Ternitz' and was arrested 'under strong suspicion of terrorism,' according to the Los Angeles Times, which cited Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.

The 19-year-old — an Austrian citizen — allegedly pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State in the beginning of July and was particularly focused on Swift's concerts, ABC News said, citing Franz Ruf, director-general for public safety in the Ministry of the Interior.

Swift's shows scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna were canceled Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. Each show was expected to draw 65,000, ABC News noted. Event organizer Barracuda Music said in an Instagram post that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety," the AP added.

Amid the 19-year-old's arrest, a bomb squad allegedly found chemical substances, NBC News said, adding that investigators are working to determine whether the substances could have been used to build a bomb.

The 19-year-old has "North Macedonian roots” and “lived with his family in Ternitz" and was arrested “under strong suspicion of terrorism,” according to the Los Angeles Times, which cited Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung. Ternitz is around 43 miles south of Vienna, the Times added.

Anything else?

It's far from clear whether there's any connection to Wednesday's arrests, but none of the aforementioned news outlets mentioned the deadly July 29 mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport, England, during which a 17-year-old male killed three and injured numerous other victims.

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive for the attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and has spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, on Tuesday opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Beheading Of Obscene Sculpture Of Virgin Mary Offends Arts Commentariat

A sculpture of the Virgin Mary, nude from the belly down, with legs spread, was beheaded earlier this month in a cathedral in Linz, Austria.

FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show A COVID-19 Crisis Actor Emerging From A Body Bag?

The video shows an Austrian protest against climate change

Austria to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for most adults and fine the non-compliant



Austria's parliament on Thursday voted to impose a COVID-19 vaccine mandate requiring people ages 18 and older to get vaccinated or face fines, according to the Associated Press, which noted that the mandate will take effect in February.

Reuters reported that the country's lower house of parliament approved the bill which would also need to clear the upper house and secure the president's signature, though the outlet said that those additional moves would in large part represent formalities.

The sweeping vaccine mandate for adults does include several exceptions, including for pregnant women, individuals who cannot get the jab due to medical reasons, and people who have recuperated from the illness within the prior six months, according to the AP. Those who recently had the illness are exempt for 180 days from when they had their first positive PCR COVID-19 test, CNN reported.

Around 72% of the nation's population is fully vaccinated against the illness.

CNN noted that while the law takes effect on Feb. 1, officials will not start checking for compliance until March 15.

Unvaccinated people will face significant financial consequences for failing to comply with the mandate.

"Making COVID-19 vaccination compulsory is an emergency exit ... out of the constant restrictions on our personal and fundamental rights like the ones we have had to endure in the past two years," Pamela Rendi-Wagner, who leads the opposition Social Democrats, told Parliament, according to Reuters.

"This vaccine mandate strips people of their rights. In one move, millions of Austrians will be downgraded," Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl said, according to Reuters. The AP quoted Kickl describing the law as "nothing more than a huge blow to the freedoms of Austrians."

In the U.S., vaccine mandates proposed and/or instituted by the public and private sectors have proven to be controversial, with many Americans decrying them as unacceptable infringements of individual liberty.

Austria fining people up to $16,000 a year for not complying with vaccine mandate, creating central COVID-19 vaccination register



Austria is threatening stiff fines on citizens who do not comply with the country's new COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Austria will fine people up to $16,000 a year if they remain unvaccinated.

This week, the Austrian government became the first European country to announce it would implement a general vaccine mandate. Effective Feb. 1, all Austrian residents aged 14 and older are required to get vaccinated against coronavirus.

Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein said that there would be exemptions for pregnant women, those who can't get vaccinated for medical reasons, and for people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the previous six months. The government will create a central vaccination register to track those who are exempt and unvaccinated individuals.

The COVID-19 vaccination register will be checked every three months. The first deadline will be March 15.

The Austrian government will issue fines of up to about $4,000 on people who are not vaccinated and who do not qualify for an exemption. Fines can be imposed every three months. Legal proceedings will be dropped if people provide proof of vaccination in the meantime.

"People's income and other financial obligations will be taken into account in calculating fines," ABC News reported. "Alternatively, officials can opt to impose a fine of up to [about $680] in shortened proceedings."

"Around 68% of Austria's population of 8.9 million is vaccinated, a comparatively low rate for Western Europe," Fox News reported. "Neighboring Germany, where the rate is just over 69%, also is eyeing the introduction of a general vaccine mandate early next year, though plans have yet to be drawn up and officials say they will let lawmakers vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines."

Karoline Edtstadler – the Cabinet minister responsible for constitutional issues – said the government has "an obligation and a need to increase vaccination coverage so that we don't go from lockdown to lockdown, next year as well."

"There are still well over a million Austrians who aren't vaccinated. That is too many," Edtstadler added. "I say very clearly that we don't want to punish the people who aren't vaccinated. We want to bring them along, we want to convince them of this vaccination and we want them to show solidarity with everyone so that we can regain our freedom."

There have been just over 13,000 COVID-19 deaths in Austria since the pandemic started.

Last Saturday, over 40,000 people marched through Vienna to protest against COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates, according to Reuters.

In #Austria, thousands have gathered to protest the mandatory vaccination passports. Take a look.pic.twitter.com/Wb3f1MePMm
— Steve Hanke (@Steve Hanke) 1638649800

'War Zone': Massive European protests against COVID-19 lockdowns, vaccine mandates erupt into an 'orgy of violence'



Amid spiking coronavirus cases, Austria announced on Friday that it would implement a full national lockdown, and would also legislate a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all eligible citizens – the first of its kind in a Western nation. Austria is one of several European countries to dictate more stringent COVID-19 restrictions as a fourth coronavirus wave sweeps the continent. Following the introduction of rigid regulations, protests and riots exploded across Europe.

Three people were hospitalized late Friday after police opened fire on lockdown protesters in downtown Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Rioters reportedly torched cars, launched fireworks, and attacked police. Police attempted to control the crowd with water cannons. Dutch police said that 51 people were arrested during the demonstration against the new COVID-19 restrictions.

Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb called the riot an "orgy of violence."

Local political party Leefbaar Rotterdam condemned the violence, "The center of our beautiful city has this evening transformed into a war zone," it said. "Rotterdam is a city where you can disagree with things that happen but violence is never, never, the solution."

NOW - Violent protests against Covid-restrictions in #Rotterdam, Netherlands.pic.twitter.com/xCTyqiy609
— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1637354016


Protests turned violent in the Netherlands as crowds in Rotterdam marched against government plans to make a 'coronavirus pass' mandatory for some indoor venues https://reut.rs/3CCSy4d\u00a0pic.twitter.com/N3haRtyRJQ
— Reuters (@Reuters) 1637406720
Rioting broke out in Rotterdam as the Netherlands government announced plans to restrict the country's coronavirus pass system to only people who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19. https://abcn.ws/3oL1dNc\u00a0pic.twitter.com/MNOlPnnLhl
— ABC News (@ABC News) 1637423224

The protests continued in the Netherlands on Saturday, when rioters set fires in Hague.

#Netherlands The Haguepic.twitter.com/POZaZlQSNp
— Nicole Elisei (@Nicole Elisei) 1637444355

In Austria's capital of Vienna, tens of thousands marched against the draconian COVID-19 restrictions.

One of the largest protests in Vienna history today to stop their full lockdown and mandatory \u201cget the jab or go to jail\u201d law.pic.twitter.com/N87zkDENZo
— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1637420388


Massive protest in Vienna, Austria today against the new lockdown, plus mandatory vaccinations which the tyrannical Austrian government plans to implement starting in February.pic.twitter.com/bOjoBbjj5y
— Brittany Sellner (@Brittany Sellner) 1637411052

In Italy, thousands of Roman protesters rallied against the country's "Green Pass" – the country's certificate of COVID-19 vaccination required to go into workplaces, restaurants, gyms, theaters, and sports venues.

NEW Thousands gather in Rome, Italy in protest against country\u2019s health passpic.twitter.com/hqGjnGRYZb
— Insider Paper (@Insider Paper) 1637450332

In Croatia, thousands gathered in the capital of Zagreb to demonstrate against the government possibly introducing a COVID-19 vaccine pass that would be needed to enter stores, restaurants, gyms, and cinemas.

Croatia against Covid pass.pic.twitter.com/Mw41pSb68X
— Ivan Vilibor Sin\u010di\u0107 MEP (@Ivan Vilibor Sin\u010di\u0107 MEP) 1637424471


Croatiapic.twitter.com/Xz7JbauBEh
— lucy johnston (@lucy johnston) 1637444592

In Denmark, the government is considering reinstituting COVID-19 restrictions that they just lifted in September. Protesters railed against the potential COVID-19 orders.

Denmark stands up with the rest of Europe tonight to call for an end to lockdowns and mandates.pic.twitter.com/dlVmI7aqTC
— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1637451286