Austria: Springboard for Global Jihad by Soeren Kern  •  August 26, 2014 at 5:00 am Austria figures prominently in a map produced by the IS that outlines the group's five-year plan for expanding its caliphate into Europe, and has emerged as a central hub for jihadists seeking to fight in Syria. "The spectrum of recruits for the conflict in Syria is ethnically diverse. The motivation, however, appears to be uniformly jihadist." — Austrian intelligence agency BVT. "Allah also gives you the opportunity to wage jihad in Austria." — Austrian jihadist Firas Houidi. "We are proud that Allah has chosen us. We feel like lions." — Austrian jihadist Abu Hamza al-Austria. The Islamist known as "Abu Hamza al-Austria," fighting in Syria, pictured from his jihadist recruitment video. The Austrian government has announced plans to improve its intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities in an urgent effort to crack down on would-be jihadists in the country. The decision by Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner to recruit 20 new intelligence officers to focus exclusively on the threat posed by radical Islam comes after police in Austria arrested nine Chechen immigrants who were on their way to wage jihad in Syria. The move also comes amid growing concerns that Austria's shiftless Muslim youth are becoming increasingly radicalized and vocal in their support of the jihadist group Islamic State. Continue Reading Article

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