Austrian chancellor confirms New Zealand shooter linked to Austrian Far-Right group
Vienna, Mar 27 (Sputnik/UNI) Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz confirmed on Wednesday that the gunman who perpetrated fatal shootings at two mosques in New Zealand earlier in March was linked to Austrian far-right Identitarian Movement.
On Tuesday, the Austria Press Agency reported, citing the Austrian Interior Ministry that the country's Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism searched the apartment of Martin Sellner, the leader of Identitarian Movement, on suspicion of links to the New Zealand shooter.
"We can confirm that the identitarians in Austria provided financial support, as well as maintained contact with the New Zealand criminal," Kurz told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
Kurz added that the country's authorities would check whether it was possible to dissolve the Identitarian Movement in Austria.
New Zealand was rocked by two mass shootings on March 15 at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center in Christchurch that left 50 people dead and another 50 injured. After the attacks New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern branded the tragedy as an act of terrorism, saying that the country had faced its "darkest day."
The attack suspect, 28-year-old Australian national Brenton Tarrant, was detained immediately afterward, and has been since charged with murder and put into custody.
Image: UNI
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