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Learner driver caught going 174 km/h

Police in Linz intercepted a driver who was traveling at speeds of 174 km/h (108 mph) near Enns in the early morning on Sunday, and discovered that it was a novice driver with a provisional learner's permit.

Published: 22 June 2014 10:31 CEST

Learner driver caught going 174 km/h

Photo: APA Archiv/Gindl

Police officers manning a speed trap on the Steyr road (B309) signaled the vehicle to stop for an inspection. The young driver braked, but only briefly, and then hit the gas.

Because the driver didn't stop, the police gave chase. While being followed by the patrol, the driver overtook other vehicles at high speed and without signaling.

Officers were finally able to catch up with the young man in Kristein district, where he was traveling at speeds over 120 km/h. When they checked his license, they discovered that he was a novice driver with a learner's permit.

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Austria detains suspected Islamists amid security fears

Austria on Sunday said three people were detained for suspected involvement in an “Islamist network”, as Vienna and Cologne step up police controls citing heightened security concerns during Christmas.

German police are carrying out strict controls at the entry of the cathedral in the western city of Cologne following a “danger warning” for New Year’s Eve.

Austrian police have also stepped up checks, especially around churches, religious events and Christmas markets in Vienna, citing an “increased risk”.

Austrian authorities “intervening in an Islamist network” made four arrests Saturday, the interior ministry said Sunday.

A ministry spokesman said of the four, three had been detained pending further investigations.

“There was no immediate threat of an attack in Vienna,” he told AFP, declining to comment further.

According to the German daily Bild, one arrest was also made in Germany.

The arrested suspects are said to be Tajiks who allegedly wanted to carry out attacks for Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), an IS offshoot in Afghanistan, Bild reported.

“Terrorist actors across Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events — especially around December 24th,” Vienna police said in a statement.

Besides Austria and Germany, Spain also received indications that an Islamist group was planning several attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year’s Eve and Christmas, Bild said.

According to the newspaper, the targets of these attacks could be Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid.

In July, a cell of suspected Islamists from IS-K was dismantled in Germany and the Netherlands.

Those arrested in Germany were said at the time to have been planning an attack in the country.

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