Second arrest in foiled embassy bomb plot in Vienna

dpa German Press Agency Published: Tuesday October 2, 2007

Vienna- Austrian police arrested a second man in connection
with a failed attempt to access the United States embassy in Vienna
with a home-made explosive device, Austrian media reported on
Tuesday.
On Monday, a 42-year-old man of Bosnian background was arrested
after trying to access the US embassy in Vienna's 9th district with
a backpack containing two hand grenades and nails.

The man was stopped at the entrance as metal detectors sounded the
alarm. Security personnel alerted police, the man fled and was
pursued by police officers guarding the embassy.

During the night, a second man, who had been implicated by the
suspect was arrested in Tulln near Vienna. Police rejected
media speculation that the second suspect had ordered the attack. It
was more likely that the first suspect had been looking for a
scapegoat, a police spokeswoman said.

If detonated in the presence of people, the bomb could have caused
serious damage because of the nails in the backpack, police said.

While potentially harmful to bystanders, the bomb was powerful
enough yield to blow up the building, police stressed.

Although a book with allegedly Islamic content had been found on
the man, police ruled out a fundamentalist background to the attack.

Less than two weeks ago, three second-generation immigrants of
Muslim background were arrested in Austria in connection with an
Islamist video, warning Austria and Germany to withdraw forces
from Afghanistan.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

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