Austrian authorities arrest 3 terror suspects at asylum quarters

Austrian authorities on Friday arrested three asylum seekers over involvement in terror militias, at separate living quarters in the western state of Tyrol.

The Krone newspaper reported state police director Helmut Tolmac as having confirmed the three men -- two Iraqi nationals aged 19 and 28, and a 27-year-old Syrian national -- had been taken into custody for either fighting for or helping terror organizations in Iraq and Syria.

The Syrian national allegedly took part in the ongoing civil war in his country between 2011 and 2014, fighting against troops of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He has reportedly also admitted to having executed 20 prisoners, the authorities stated.

The 28-year-old Iraqi is also alleged to have killed a number of people, while his compatriot is accused of providing supplies to a terror organization, though neither has yet admitted to the allegations.

Tomac said there were no indications at present the men had travelled to Austria or Europe to conduct terror activities, nor that they were part of any terror networks or have attempted to radicalize other persons.

He said all three men had entered Austria during the migrant influx in 2015.

In response to the arrests, Governor of Tyrol Guenther Platter called for the "full force of the law" to be used, and said it is not acceptable "felons and terrorists come to our country and threaten our security," in a press release.

He spoke out against "uncontrolled entry for refugees," and said the arrests show the importance of police controls at border regions. Endit