August 05, 2007

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Austria are divided on whether radical Islamists willing to perpetrate a terrorist attack are already living in their country, according to a poll by OGM. 47 per cent of respondents think it is likely that this is the case, while 47 per cent disagree.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Austria are divided on whether radical Islamists willing to perpetrate a terrorist attack are already living in their country, according to a poll by OGM. 47 per cent of respondents think it is likely that this is the case, while 47 per cent disagree.

Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people in the United States. The war on terrorism was initiated in October 2001 after Afghanistan's Taliban regime refused to hand over al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden to the American government.

Other attacks by Islamic extremists have followed after 9/11. One of them took place in Madrid, Spain's capital, in March 2004, and another one in London, in July 2005. It is widely believed the two nations were attacked for their involvement in the U.S.-led coalition effort in Iraq, which started in 2003. Austria currently has four officers serving in Afghanistan.

In late June and early July, two attempted car bombings were reported in the British capital, and a car—filled with gas cylinders and fuel—crashed into the doors of Scotland's Glasgow Airport in another apparent attack. Six people were arrested in connection with the incidents, which according to British investigators, are related. All are non-British Muslims who had worked in Britain's state-run National Health Service (NHS).

Last month, federal chancellor and Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) leader Alfred Gusenbauer said foreigners who have been in the country for 10 years and have "integrated well into Austrian society should be given the right to stay here." Interior minister and Austrian People's Party (OVP) member Guenther Platter said Gusenbauer's proposal amounts to "immigration under the guise of asylum."

Polling Data

The suspects in England's recent attempted terrorist attacks had been living in the country for years and were apparently integrated to British society. Do you believe Islamists willing to commit a terrorist attack are already living in Austria?

Yes	47%
No	47%
Not sure	6%

Source: OGM
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 501 Austrian voters, conducted on Jul. 31, 2007. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.