Austrian police investigate attacks against Jehovah’s Witnesses

NOS News•today, 02:58

In Austria, a series of attacks and attempted attacks on members of Jehovah’s Witnesses are being investigated. Yesterday, for the third time in nine months, an explosive exploded under a car belonging to a member of the religious community. An attack was also thwarted.

All incidents were near Graz, in southern Austria. The Austrian police assume there is a connection and take matters seriously.

The first attacks took place last summer. Then explosives were placed under two cars parked at a so-called kingdom hall, a faith center of Jehovah’s Witnesses. During the service, worshipers heard loud bangs. The dozens of people present were brought to safety. No one was injured.

In March, an explosive device was found at the entrance to another room. That could be defused in time. Police experts concluded that the homemade bomb was made in the same way as the explosives placed under the cars.

So yesterday things went wrong again and a car belonging to a community member burned down. The police assume that an explosive was also used there. Further research is now being conducted into this.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have more than 22,000 active members in Austria. A spokesperson told broadcaster ORF that the cases are causing unrest in the community. “We treat everyone with respect and tolerance, and that is how we should be treated.”