Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of Austria’s Directorate for State Security and Intelligence, unexpectedly announced in September that he would resign from his post at the end of the year — citing “personal reasons”. Only weeks later, the organisation was shaken by a serious scandal: an employee allegedly passed classified information to the extremist Muslim Brotherhood. Experts warn that infiltration of state security agencies by radical Islamist groups poses a major risk to both national and European security.

The exposed employee, identified as a spy for the radical Islamist organisation Muslim Brotherhood, has been suspended and reported to the authorities. According to media reports, the suspect is of Egyptian origin. Through him, classified information is believed to have reached the Brotherhood. He was monitored for several weeks and was eventually apprehended after meeting with an unconstitutional group. Austria’s interior ministry sought to reassure the public.

“The internal control mechanisms introduced during the DSN’s 2021 reorganisation proved effective and contributed significantly to uncovering the irregularities,” the ministry said, adding that the exposed employee did not have access to intelligence data.

However, the explanation failed to distract from the embarrassment the incident caused the agency, and the doubts it raised about its operational competence.

The organisation was created in 2021 following the serious failings revealed by the 2 November 2020 Vienna terrorist attack. At the time, the former Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT) faced harsh criticism for ignoring key warning signs. Under Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (OVP), the state security service was restructured: the newly formed DSN was meant to put an end to political interference and restore public trust in Austria’s security institutions.

Instead of focusing on the growing Islamist threat, the DSN initially concentrated on protest groups opposing coronavirus restrictions — an approach that even Islamist circles reportedly mocked.

In 2023, an anonymous interview given by a DSN officer caused outrage when he suggested that “fake news” should be punished — a move that would have effectively meant the end of free speech. The interior ministry was forced to publicly deny the statement. It was a communications disaster that further deepened doubts about the authority’s competence.

Muslim Brotherhood: Infiltration as Strategy

Vienna-based political scientist Nina Scholz also voiced her concern.

“Infiltration of state security institutions by radical Islamist organisations poses a massive risk to both national and European security,” she said.

Ms. Scholz referred to the ideological programme of the Muslim Brotherhood, which maintains an extensive network across Europe and the United States. Its declared goal is the gradual Islamisation of the West — by infiltrating political parties, institutions and non-governmental organisations.

“They believe Europe must be transformed by breaking through its institutions,” Ms. Scholz emphasised, adding that throughout its history the Muslim Brotherhood has founded several terrorist organisations — among them Hamas.

Ein zeitlicher Zusammenhang, der Fragen aufwirft: Erst der Rücktritt von DSN-Chef Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, dann der Maulwurf-Skandal. War der Verdacht intern längst bekannt? Die Vertrauenskrise im Staatsschutz ist massiv – und Österreichs Nachrichtendienst… https://t.co/e6CdVN9y6R

— exxpress (@exxpressat) October 10, 2025