Austrian far Right ‘linked to NZ attack’

A PROMINENT Austrian far-right leader barred from entering the UK last year is facing investigation over suspected links with the gunman held for the New Zealand mosque attack.

The Austrian government announced yesterday that it may ban the far-right Identitarian movement if any link is proved.

Martin Sellner, one of the movement’s founders and best-known figures, denied any involvement in the attack after his Vienna home was raided by police investigating the suspected links on Monday.

Prosecutors said the investigation had been triggered by a suspicious €1,500 (£1,270) donation.

They are believed to be investigating the possibility the donation was made by Brenton Tarrant, the main suspect in the terror attacks on two Christchurch mosques in which 50 people were killed.

“I have nothing to do with this terror attack,” Mr Sellner said on social media. He admitted he had received an email and a “disproportionately large” donation from someone named Tarrant.

He said he sent a reply to thank the donor, but claimed there was no other communication between them.

Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian chancellor, has called for any possible links to be “comprehensively and ruthlessly investigated”.

“There can be no tolerance for dangerous ideologies, wherever they come from,” he said yesterday.

The Identitarian movement has been described as “the far-right for hipsters” and is known for stunts such as chartering its own ship to return migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea to Africa.

Mr Sellner was planning to speak in the UK last year but he was barred from entering on the grounds that his presence was “not conducive to the public good”.

If any link to the attacks was proved it could have serious repercussions for the movement.