Austrian Far-Right Activist Suspected Of Links To New Zealand Shooter - Reports

Austrian Far-Right Activist Suspected of Links to New Zealand Shooter - Reports

The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT) has searched the apartment of Martin Sellner, the leader of Austrian far-right Identitarian Movement, on suspicion of links to the perpetrator of the recent New Zealand shootings, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the Austrian Interior Ministry

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th March, 2019) The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism (BVT) has searched the apartment of Martin Sellner, the leader of Austrian far-right Identitarian Movement, on suspicion of links to the perpetrator of the recent New Zealand shootings, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the Austrian Interior Ministry.

Sellner's apartment in Vienna was raided on Monday, the Austria Press Agency (APA) reported.

The reason for the search was a donation worth 1,500 Euros ($1,690) received by Sellner's movement last year. The name of the donor, which coincides with the name of the suspected New Zealand shooter, drew the attention of the Austrian authorities that had been probing Sellner for possible financial crimes.

All the data storage devices found in the apartment were seized after the search, the news outlet added.

New Zealand was rocked by two mass shootings on March 15 at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center in Christchurch that left 50 people dead and another 50 injured. After the attacks New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern branded the tragedy as an act of terrorism, saying that the country had faced its "darkest day."

The attack suspect, 28-year-old Australian national Brenton Tarrant, was detained immediately afterwards, and has been since charged with murder and put into custody.