Kujtim Fejzullai
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Kujtim Fejzullai(2000-2020) was an Austrian jihadi of ethnic Albanian descent who committed several shootings in Vienna, Austria before being killed by the police. He had been in prison for attempting to join the Islamic State in 2018, but secured early release by agreeing to enter a deradicalization program. On November 2, 2020, Fejzullai began shooting people outside the Stadttempel in Vienna, proceeding to commit similar shootings around the Vienna city center until the police shot him.
Background edit
Kujtim Fejzullai was born in Modling, Lower Austria, but grew up in Vienna, where he attended the Melit Ibrahim Mosque. It is believed that his radicalization began here, and after finding Islamic State propaganda online, he decided to join the group. In 2018 he traveled to Syria, but was caught in Turkey crossing the border illegally, and deported back to Austria. There, Fejzullai was sentenced to 22 months in prison in April 2019, of which he only served 9 because he agreed to enter a deradicalization program. After convincing the program that he had abandoned his extreme beliefs, Fejzullai attempted to purchase rifle ammunition in Slovakia in July 2020. He did not have a license and was unable to, and Slovakian authorities informed their Austrian counterparts of his attempt.
Attack edit
Hours before the attack, Fejzullai made an Instagram post featuring a selfie in which he holds a pistol in his hand and an AK-47 and a machete across his chest, and pledges allegiance to the Islamic State under the name Abu Dujana al-Albani. These weapons, along with a fake suicide vest, would be seen in the attack.
At around 8 PM, Fejzullai began firing on diners at a restaurant near the Stadttempel, the primary synagogue in Vienna. The proximity of the synagogue initially led some to suggest that it may have been his target, however the building was closed at that time. Following that shooting, he traveled around downtown Vienna shooting people in multiple locations, causing fears that there were multiple shooters, until finally he was shot dead in front of St. Rupert's Church by Austrian police. Several other suspects were arrested, but released after video footage determined he was the only shooter.
Victims edit
- Nexhip Vrenezi, 21
- Vanessa Preger-McGillivray, 24
- Li Qiang, 39
- Unidentified Austrian woman, 44