Authorities in Austria, on Sunday (June 18) said they foiled a possible attack on a pride parade which was to be held in the capital of Vienna on Saturday. The police have arrested three suspects, aged 20, 17 and 14, who allegedly sympathised with the extremist Islamic State group.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the officials say about the possible attack?</h2>

The pride parade in the Austrian capital city which was held to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights took place on Saturday with around 300,000 people, said the officials. The three suspects were arrested an hour before the parade by Austria’s Cobra special forces, the head of the domestic intelligence service told reporters.&nbsp;

“Through the successful and also timely intervention, we managed to defuse the moment of danger for Vienna Pride and to ensure the safety of all participants,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner from the State Protection and Intelligence Directorate. He also went on to assure that there was “no danger for the participants of the parade at any time.”

According to the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, the country’s intelligence service had recently received information about the suspects’ alleged plans and placed them “under constant control”. The arrest took place following the orders of the St. Poelten public prosecutor’s office and house searches on Saturday in which officials reportedly found evidence, including weapons.&nbsp;

While Haijawi-Pirchner did not give details about how the&nbsp;attack could have taken place, he said items found at the suspects’ house were prohibited under Austria’s weapons law. However, the head of the intelligence service did say that the suspects would have used knives and a car for the attack.&nbsp;

The joint operation was conducted by the Vienna police and Austria’s state protection service. Speaking about the possibility of the&nbsp;cancellation of the event, Haijawi-Pirchner said that it was discussed but in the end, they decided not to after they were certain the three men had no accomplices based on well-founded and reliable investigative findings.&nbsp;

The organisers of the parade were informed about the events after the police raid had taken place, on Saturday. Speaking about the incident, Ann-Sophie Otte, chairwoman of the Homosexual Initiative Vienna, said “We will not let the enemies of rights for LGBTQI people, democracy and an open society get us down,” as quoted by Austrian news agency APA.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know about the suspects?</h2>

According to Haijawi-Pirchner, three suspects aged between 14 and 20 were Austrian citizens with Bosnian and Chechen roots and had radicalised online and sympathised with the Islamic State group. However, the suspect’s identities were not revealed. He added, one of the suspects was already known to police.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>Austrian lawmakers express shock</h2>

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, on Sunday, took to Twitter and expressed his gratitude to the investigators for preventing “a possible Islamist attack in Vienna.” He added, “This shows once again that we must never give in in the fight against radicals and extremists.”&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig expressed shock over the report and said, “There must be no place for hate and exclusion in Vienna. Our city is colorful and cosmopolitan,” as quoted by APA.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Authorities in Austria, on Sunday (June 18) said they foiled a possible attack on a pride parade which was to be held in the capital of Vienna on Saturday. The police have arrested three suspects, aged 20, 17 and 14, who allegedly sympathised with the extremist Islamic State group.

Authorities in Austria, on Sunday (June 18) said they foiled a possible attack on a pride parade which was to be held in the capital of Vienna on Saturday. The police have arrested three suspects, aged 20, 17 and 14, who allegedly sympathised with the extremist Islamic State group. What did the officials say about the possible attack? The pride parade in the Austrian capital city which was held to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights took place on Saturday with around 300,000 people, said the officials. The three suspects were arrested an hour before the parade by Austria’s Cobra special forces, the head of the domestic intelligence service told reporters. “Through the successful and also timely intervention, we managed to defuse the moment of danger for Vienna Pride and to ensure the safety of all participants,” said Omar Haijawi-Pirchner from the State Protection and Intelligence Directorate. He also went on to assure that there was “no danger for the participants of the parade at any time.” According to the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, the country’s intelligence service had recently received information about the suspects’ alleged plans and placed them “under constant control”. The arrest took place following the orders of the St. Poelten public prosecutor’s office and house searches on Saturday in which officials reportedly found evidence, including weapons. While Haijawi-Pirchner did not give details about how the attack could have taken place, he said items found at the suspects’ house were prohibited under Austria’s weapons law. However, the head of the intelligence service did say that the suspects would have used knives and a car for the attack. The joint operation was conducted by the Vienna police and Austria’s state protection service. Speaking about the possibility of the cancellation of the event, Haijawi-Pirchner said that it was discussed but in the end, they decided not to after they were certain the three men had no accomplices based on well-founded and reliable investigative findings. The organisers of the parade were informed about the events after the police raid had taken place, on Saturday. Speaking about the incident, Ann-Sophie Otte, chairwoman of the Homosexual Initiative Vienna, said “We will not let the enemies of rights for LGBTQI people, democracy and an open society get us down,” as quoted by Austrian news agency APA. What do we know about the suspects? According to Haijawi-Pirchner, three suspects aged between 14 and 20 were Austrian citizens with Bosnian and Chechen roots and had radicalised online and sympathised with the Islamic State group. However, the suspect’s identities were not revealed. He added, one of the suspects was already known to police. Austrian lawmakers express shock Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, on Sunday, took to Twitter and expressed his gratitude to the investigators for preventing “a possible Islamist attack in Vienna.” He added, “This shows once again that we must never give in in the fight against radicals and extremists.” Meanwhile, the Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig expressed shock over the report and said, “There must be no place for hate and exclusion in Vienna. Our city is colorful and cosmopolitan,” as quoted by APA. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Austrian police foil planned attack on Vienna’s pride parade; three arrested

Days after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-aide-sets-conditions-for-us-syria-withdrawal-188724">US National Security Advisr John Bolton</a> stated conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, Turkish President&nbsp;Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey would provide no assurances to Kurdish militia forces in Syria.

The clarification from the spokesman came after he held a meeting with Bolton.

"Nobody should expect Turkey to provide assurances to a terror organisation," Kalin told journalists.

White House national security adviser John Bolton had on Sunday sought protection for the Syrian Kurdish forces.

Bolton, who is&nbsp;on a four-day trip to Israel and Turkey, had said earlier&nbsp;that he would stress on the security of the Kurdish forces.

He had also added that&nbsp;Trump's position is that Turkey may not attack the Kurds and that the US&nbsp;withdrawal would not take place without an agreement on that.

President&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-surprise-how-trumps-phone-call-changed-the-war-187008">Donald Trump's abrupt decision to announce a US&nbsp;pull-out from Syria</a>&nbsp;left open many questions, chiefly whether Kurds fighters operating in northern Syria would now be targetted by their long-time enemy Turkey.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Turkey on Tuesday urged the United States to take back all the weapons provided to Syrian Kurdish militia forces in the fight against the Islamic State group, a presidential spokesman said.

"We expect that all the weapons that were given out will be seized," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara after a meeting with White House National Security adviser John Bolton.

The US troops in Syria have never been involved in a direct fight with the ISIS militant group unless it was for their self-defence.&nbsp;

Since 2015 the forces had been assisting and advising the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF).

The Kurdish forces who have been demanding a separate country for themselves&nbsp;fought against the Islamic State in the country alongside the US troops.

The Bashar al-Assad regime, on the other hand, was backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Days after US National Security Advisr John Bolton stated conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey would provide no assurances to Kurdish militia forces in Syria.

Days after US National Security Advisr John Bolton stated conditions for the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey would provide no assurances to Kurdish militia forces in Syria. The clarification from the spokesman came after he held a meeting with Bolton. "Nobody should expect Turkey to provide assurances to a terror organisation," Kalin told journalists. White House national security adviser John Bolton had on Sunday sought protection for the Syrian Kurdish forces. Bolton, who is on a four-day trip to Israel and Turkey, had said earlier that he would stress on the security of the Kurdish forces. He had also added that Trump's position is that Turkey may not attack the Kurds and that the US withdrawal would not take place without an agreement on that. President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to announce a US pull-out from Syria left open many questions, chiefly whether Kurds fighters operating in northern Syria would now be targetted by their long-time enemy Turkey. Meanwhile, Turkey on Tuesday urged the United States to take back all the weapons provided to Syrian Kurdish militia forces in the fight against the Islamic State group, a presidential spokesman said. "We expect that all the weapons that were given out will be seized," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told journalists in Ankara after a meeting with White House National Security adviser John Bolton. The US troops in Syria have never been involved in a direct fight with the ISIS militant group unless it was for their self-defence. Since 2015 the forces had been assisting and advising the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF). The Kurdish forces who have been demanding a separate country for themselves fought against the Islamic State in the country alongside the US troops. The Bashar al-Assad regime, on the other hand, was backed by Russia, Iran and Turkey. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey will give no assurances to US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria: Erdogan's spokesman

France was in mourning on Saturday for a French security officer who died from gunshot wounds after voluntarily taking the place of a female hostage during a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant.

Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes near the Pyrenees mountains.

&quot;He fell as a hero, giving up his life to halt the murderous outfit of a jihadist terrorist,&quot; President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement shortly before dawn on Saturday.

Friday&#39;s attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national from the city of Carcassonne, not far from Trebes, a tranquil town of about 5,000 people where he struck on Friday afternoon.

Lakdim was known to authorities for drug-dealing and other petty crimes, but had also been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday.

The attacker, whose rampage began when he fired on a group of police joggers and also shot the occupants of a car he stole, killed three people and injured 16 others on Friday, according to a government readout.

Beltrame&#39;s death takes the number killed to four.

He was part of a team of gendarmes who were among the first to arrive at the supermarket scene; most of the people in the supermarket escaped after hiding in a cold storage room and then fleeing through an emergency exit.

He offered to trade places with a hostage the attacker was still holding, whereafter he took her place and left his mobile phone on a table, line open. When shots rang out, elite police stormed the building to kill the assailant. Police sources said Beltrame was shot three times.

Arrests

Police arrested two people after the attack, one of them a woman connected to Lakdim, on Friday and a 17-year-old man said to be one of his friends overnight, judicial sources said.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim.

More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who either pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the ultra hardline group.

France is part of a group of countries whose warplanes have been bombing Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria, where in recent months IS has lost much of a self-proclaimed &quot;caliphate&quot; of territory it seized in 2014.

One multiple attack by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015 while another killed close to 90 when a man ran a truck into partying crowds in the Riviera seaside city of Nice in July 2016.

Beltrame, who is survived by his wife, was a qualified parachutist who served in Iraq in 2005. He also worked as part of the elite Republican Guard that protects the presidential Elysee Place offices and residence in Paris, Macron said.

Friday&#39;s assault was the first deadly Islamist attack in France since October 2017, when a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before soldiers killed him.

Several attacks over the past year or more have targeted police and soldiers deployed in big numbers to protect civilians and patrol sensitive spots such as airports and train stations.

Macron said of Beltrame: &quot;In offering himself as a hostage to the terrorist holed up in the Trebes supermarket, lieutenant colonel Beltrame saved the life of a civilian hostage, showing exceptional self-sacrifice and courage.&quot;

The news of Beltrame&#39;s death was first announced France&#39;s interior minister, who said in a Twitter post: &quot;Dead for his country. France will never forget his heroism, bravery and sacrifice.&quot;

 
&nbsp;

Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes

France was in mourning on Saturday for a French security officer who died from gunshot wounds after voluntarily taking the place of a female hostage during a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant. Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes near the Pyrenees mountains. "He fell as a hero, giving up his life to halt the murderous outfit of a jihadist terrorist," President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement shortly before dawn on Saturday. Friday's attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national from the city of Carcassonne, not far from Trebes, a tranquil town of about 5,000 people where he struck on Friday afternoon. Lakdim was known to authorities for drug-dealing and other petty crimes, but had also been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday. The attacker, whose rampage began when he fired on a group of police joggers and also shot the occupants of a car he stole, killed three people and injured 16 others on Friday, according to a government readout. Beltrame's death takes the number killed to four. He was part of a team of gendarmes who were among the first to arrive at the supermarket scene; most of the people in the supermarket escaped after hiding in a cold storage room and then fleeing through an emergency exit. He offered to trade places with a hostage the attacker was still holding, whereafter he took her place and left his mobile phone on a table, line open. When shots rang out, elite police stormed the building to kill the assailant. Police sources said Beltrame was shot three times. Arrests Police arrested two people after the attack, one of them a woman connected to Lakdim, on Friday and a 17-year-old man said to be one of his friends overnight, judicial sources said. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim. More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who either pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the ultra hardline group. France is part of a group of countries whose warplanes have been bombing Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria, where in recent months IS has lost much of a self-proclaimed "caliphate" of territory it seized in 2014. One multiple attack by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015 while another killed close to 90 when a man ran a truck into partying crowds in the Riviera seaside city of Nice in July 2016. Beltrame, who is survived by his wife, was a qualified parachutist who served in Iraq in 2005. He also worked as part of the elite Republican Guard that protects the presidential Elysee Place offices and residence in Paris, Macron said. Friday's assault was the first deadly Islamist attack in France since October 2017, when a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before soldiers killed him. Several attacks over the past year or more have targeted police and soldiers deployed in big numbers to protect civilians and patrol sensitive spots such as airports and train stations. Macron said of Beltrame: "In offering himself as a hostage to the terrorist holed up in the Trebes supermarket, lieutenant colonel Beltrame saved the life of a civilian hostage, showing exceptional self-sacrifice and courage." The news of Beltrame's death was first announced France's interior minister, who said in a Twitter post: "Dead for his country. France will never forget his heroism, bravery and sacrifice."

French policeman who took place of hostage dies of gunshot wounds

Iraqi forces have found the bodies of two of the crew of a plane shot down by the Islamic State group last year, the air force said on Tuesday.

The Cessna 208 Caravan was downed over the northern town of Hawija, a former jihadist bastion which was retaken by government forces last week.

&quot;The bodies of two of the crew killed in the crash of their Cessna Caravan in Hawija in March 2016 have been found,&quot; the air force said.

&quot;The jihadists had hidden the bodies of Brigadier General Ali al-Ubudi and Major Mohammed al-Shikhli,&quot; it said, adding that a search was under way for the body of the third crew member, Colonel Mohammed Abdel Kassar.

IS said it used anti-aircraft artillery to down the plane which had been on a bombing run against Hawija on March 16, 2016.

It released footage showing its fighters celebrating around the downed aircraft and the remains of its crew.

In its combat version, the Cessna 208 can be used to launch laser-guided Hellfire missiles.

Troops and militia overran Hawija on Thursday, recapturing the last major population centre held by IS in Iraq apart from a stretch of the Euphrates Valley next to the Syrian border.

Fighting is still going on in the countryside around the town, however, as troops attempt to retake some 60 villages still held by the jihadists and reach Kurdish lines to the north and east.

Kurdish forces came under attack on Tuesday near the town of Dibis, northwest of the provincial capital Kirkuk, an officer told AFP.

&quot;Some jihadists walked up waving a white flag then attacked our fighters, killing one of them,&quot; the Kurdish officer said.

He said the Kurdish peshmerga fighters responded, killing eight jihadists and capturing three.

&nbsp;

IS said it used anti-aircraft artillery to down the plane which had been on a bombing run against Hawija on March 16, 2016

Iraqi forces have found the bodies of two of the crew of a plane shot down by the Islamic State group last year, the air force said on Tuesday. The Cessna 208 Caravan was downed over the northern town of Hawija, a former jihadist bastion which was retaken by government forces last week. "The bodies of two of the crew killed in the crash of their Cessna Caravan in Hawija in March 2016 have been found," the air force said. "The jihadists had hidden the bodies of Brigadier General Ali al-Ubudi and Major Mohammed al-Shikhli," it said, adding that a search was under way for the body of the third crew member, Colonel Mohammed Abdel Kassar. IS said it used anti-aircraft artillery to down the plane which had been on a bombing run against Hawija on March 16, 2016. It released footage showing its fighters celebrating around the downed aircraft and the remains of its crew. In its combat version, the Cessna 208 can be used to launch laser-guided Hellfire missiles. Troops and militia overran Hawija on Thursday, recapturing the last major population centre held by IS in Iraq apart from a stretch of the Euphrates Valley next to the Syrian border. Fighting is still going on in the countryside around the town, however, as troops attempt to retake some 60 villages still held by the jihadists and reach Kurdish lines to the north and east. Kurdish forces came under attack on Tuesday near the town of Dibis, northwest of the provincial capital Kirkuk, an officer told AFP. "Some jihadists walked up waving a white flag then attacked our fighters, killing one of them," the Kurdish officer said. He said the Kurdish peshmerga fighters responded, killing eight jihadists and capturing three.

Iraqi forces recover bodies of plane crew shot down by IS

Ten Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria by coalition air strikes and cross-border artillery fire from Turkey, military sources said today. 
A total of 17 targets, including mortar positions, were hit in the operations which were carried out on militants thought to have been preparing for an attack on Turkey, the sources said. 
(Reuters)

The strikes targeted 17 targets of the Islamic State fighters who, military sources say, were preparing to attack Turkey

Ten Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria by coalition air strikes and cross-border artillery fire from Turkey, military sources said today. A total of 17 targets, including mortar positions, were hit in the operations which were carried out on militants thought to have been preparing for an attack on Turkey, the sources said. (Reuters)

Coalition airstrikes, Turkish shelling kill 10 IS militants in Syria

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Austrian police foil planned attack on Vienna’s pride parade; three arrested

Turkey will give no assurances to US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria: Erdogan's spokesman

French policeman who took place of hostage dies of gunshot wounds

Iraqi forces recover bodies of plane crew shot down by IS

Coalition airstrikes, Turkish shelling kill 10 IS militants in Syria