At the beginning of October, an Austrian police officer was exposed after being transferred to the State Security and Intelligence Directorate (DSN)’s counter-terrorism unit. The accusations against him include unauthorised data queries, links to the Muslim Brotherhood, and potential leaks of information related to ongoing investigations. He has been suspended, his home searched, and his electronic devices seized. According to the Vienna public prosecutor’s office, the man admitted to the unauthorised data queries, yet he has been allowed to remain at large during the proceedings.

Austria’s interior ministry stated that the officer „did not have access to sensitive intelligence data”. However, the potential damage is significant: he worked in the area where Austria’s most sensitive threat assessments are conducted.

Despite this, the Vienna public prosecutor’s office did not request pre-trial detention, arguing that it saw no grounds for arrest.

The Austrian outlet Exxpress reported that the case has caused outrage across Europe, and that experts cannot understand why the man was not taken into pre-trial custody, especially given that pre-trial detention is the standard procedure in espionage cases internationally in order to secure evidence and prevent contact with background actors.

Islamist networks operate across borders and pose a real threat

Experts consider the decision worrying, particularly in light of the recent discovery of an arms cache in Vienna which to authorities believe is linked to the terrorist organisation Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The weapons stored there were allegedly intended for possible attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe.

Meanwhile, in Germany, suspected Hamas members have been brought to court in Germany, accused of establishing weapons depots in several European countries for attacks on Jewish institutions.

All this demonstrates that Islamist networks have long been operating across borders and are actively preparing armed attacks in Europe.

Ein DSN-Mitarbeiter mit mutmaßlich islamistischem Hintergrund soll sensible Daten abgefragt haben – bleibt aber trotz Ermittlungen auf freiem Fuß. Laut Wiener Staatsanwaltschaft kein Haftgrund und Justizministerin Sporrer schweigt. Mehr dazu im Artikel: https://t.co/k3Gc8wV1J3 pic.twitter.com/iKaDdSw50y

— exxpress (@exxpressat) November 20, 2025

The Islamist background makes the case even more explosive

The suspect is reportedly connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, a global network whose most radical branch is the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas.

The latest report from the renowned Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) is unusually harsh on Austria’s justice system. While Hamas’s activities have led to legal consequences in other European countries, Austria’s justice system has largely remained inactive.