The perpetrator, a 32-year-old Romanian who has lived in Austria since 2020, admitted to acting out of anger. He claimed that the Free Church had “destroyed his life,” although the church has no connection with him.

The attack, carried out with a twelve-ton truck, caused severe damage to the facade, windows, and doors, which were at risk of collapsing but have since been stabilized. The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. when three people, including the pastor, were inside the building. Fortunately, they had left the office due to the noise just minutes before the truck destroyed it, escaping without injury.

Police spokesman Johann Baumschlager reported that the Romanian man confessed during his initial questioning, reiterating his belief that the church had ruined his life. This sentiment appears to have fueled his misplaced anger towards the congregation. Police are investigating whether this man was involved in a previous incident two weeks earlier, in which someone tore up a Bible in the church and made similar claims.

During his drive from Vienna to Brunn am Gebirge, the perpetrator caused several accidents, damaging multiple cars and slightly injuring a pedestrian. The police are continuing to question the man, and the investigation has been taken over by the State Office for State Protection and Combating Extremism (LSE) due to the potential religious motivation behind the attack.

Source: noe.orf.at