Another dangerous apostate terrorist arrested.

 AUSTRIA.  

Another dangerous apostate terrorist arrested.

Bomber caught: Wanted to kill ex-wife

The man who carried out several bombings on a meeting house of Jehovah's Witnesses and a trailer's car has been arrested. The 55-year-old was a Jehovah's Witness himself for years and wanted to kill his wife after a maintenance dispute.

In recent months, there have been several attacks on institutions of Jehovah's Witnesses: Since August 2023, three bombs had already been found in cars and houses of worship of Jehovah's Witnesses in Styria.

Alimony dispute

Now the perpetrator has been caught: he is a 55-year-old Styrian, he is an IT technician, comes from the district of Graz-Umgebung and was arrested on Wednesday at his workplace in the district of Leibnitz. He was a Jehovah's Witness himself from 1991 to 2011, was married to a woman from the religious community and has two children with her. However, after the divorce, he was expelled, a long-term alimony dispute followed. He had apparently not seen his children for 13 years, except for court appearances.

"Because of this quarrel, he wanted to kill his ex-wife. He is fully confessed, "the head of the Michael investigation group, Rupert Meixner, said at the press conference on Wednesday. The suspect was among about 60 former members who the investigators had examined more closely on the basis of clues. Apparently, the woman had also provided the decisive clue to the investigators.

Personality profile "downright tailored"

According to Meixner, the suspicions about the 55-year-old had become so concentrated on Wednesday morning that the arrest was ordered: around 11.30 am, the Styrian was then arrested at his workplace in the Graz-Umgebung district. The personality profile created by a profiler was literally "tailored" to the alleged perpetrator, the investigators said. At the same time as the press conference, a house search was also carried out at the man's home south of Graz.

Pipe bombs as a "diversionary maneuver"

As a distraction maneuver, the 55–year-old had already mounted pipe bombs on vehicles of other members of Jehovah's Witnesses in August 2023 - according to Rene Kornberger, the head of the Styria State Criminal Police Office, these were "not immense". This was followed by a bomb "with extreme explosive power" at the door of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kalsdorf at Easter 2024, Kornberger said – but this did not go off, but another bomb on a car in Zettling.

Already on May 3, the suspect is said to have attached another pipe bomb to his ex-wife's car, according to his own statements – but this has apparently not been detonated so far. When he told the investigators about this bomb during the interrogation, the ex-wife's vehicle was immediately searched and found in a parking lot on Elisabethstraße in Graz.

Subsequently, as a precautionary measure, roadblocks were set up on Elisabethstraße, Leonhardstraße, Leechgasse and Rembrandtgasse.

The bomb disappeared

Explosives experts arrived, but found no bomb on the car – only a magnet with which the explosive device was mounted. According to Kornberger, the bomb has not yet been found, but it is assumed that the suspect had actually mounted one on the ex-wife's car. It is unclear whether it fell off and possibly detonated in the course of it – the explosive device is still being searched for.

Jehovah's Witnesses are relieved

On the part of Jehovah's Witnesses, people were grateful and relieved on Wednesday evening. "The latent threat is gone for now. We are glad that no one was harmed“" said press spokesman Markus Kakavis. Now the relatives would live more relaxed again, attend the meetings.

It is very sad that someone would resort to such acts – even if, according to the police, it may have been a private motive. "Our understanding is that nothing justifies giving free rein to emotions by force. This is repugnant and should be rejected,“ the spokesman said. "We perceived the security authorities as very cooperative, they took it very seriously," said Kakavis – he thanked them for the fact that the kingdom halls in Leibnitz and Kalsdorf were "permanently secured" and measures were also taken throughout Austria.

"Recognition" by Interior Minister Karner

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) congratulated in a statement: "Recognition to the investigators involved, especially to the Styrian State Office for State Protection and Combating Extremism. Professional investigations have enabled a dangerous criminal to be arrested, further possible attacks to be prevented and human lives to be protected.“

In the photo: Police major operation in Graz

https://steiermark.orf.at/stories/3259111/