Austrian faces death penalty in Saudi Arabia for Mecca knife attack

An Austrian national faces the death penalty in Saudi Arabia as his trial for a knife attack in Mecca concludes. The 21-year-old, identified as H.E., is accused of carrying out the assault in March 2024 on behalf of the Islamic State.

Prosecutors allege that H.E. purchased a knife at a market before attacking a security guard near the Grand Mosque of Mecca. He then proceeded to stab four other individuals. All five victims survived the attack. H.E. has been detained in a Saudi prison since his arrest.

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that its embassy in Riyadh is providing consular assistance and maintaining regular contact with H.E. Despite these efforts, the embassy has been unsuccessful in securing his transfer to Austria for trial, leaving him subject to Saudi Arabian law and the potential for capital punishment.

Austrian media reports indicate that H.E. is also known as a mentor and former classmate of B.A., one of the individuals convicted for planning terrorist attacks at concerts by American singer Taylor Swift in Austria. B.A. and another accomplice, A.K., admitted to traveling to Dubai and Istanbul in 2024 with the intention of carrying out attacks. B.A. testified that he attempted to stab victims in Dubai but was prevented by a panic attack, subsequently deciding to target the Swift concert in Vienna, an act thwarted by Austrian police.

During the trial, H.E. was described by the accused as a key figure in the terror plots. He is the only one among them who actually carried out an attack. The verdict, expected soon, will determine if the young Austrian extremist becomes the sole fatal victim of his own terrorist actions.