Austrian State security services have raided the Vienna home and studio of Richard Medhurst, a self-described “independent journalist” and pro-Palestinian activist.
Medhurst said he was accused of being a member of Islamist terror group Hamas, specifically the paramilitary Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military arm, and blamed British police for instigating the raids.
A spokesperson for the Vienna state prosecutor’s office confirmed the raids, which took place on February 3, and said investigations were ongoing due to the suspicion of criminal activities.
The spokesperson did not indicate whether the Austrian agency had acted on its own accord or had been asked for co-operation by foreign authorities.
The Directorate for State Security and Intelligence, which reportedly conducted the raids, is the primary civilian security agency of Austria.
The 34-year-old Medhurst has a British father and a Syrian mother and was born in the Syrian capital Damascus. He has primarily published texts and videos on social media – often clad in a Palestinian Keffiyeh, a Middle Eastern scarf – and has a long history of anti-Israeli commentary.
He has voiced support for Hamas and routinely accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
Allegedly, according to The Times of Israel, he has close ties with the Islamist regime in Iran. He reportedly contributed to the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen news site, Iran’s Press TV and Russia’s state-controlled RT television network.
Medhurst has also addressed crowds at pro-Palestinian rallies in Vienna, it was claimed.
In August 2024, Medhurst was reportedly detained by British police at Heathrow Airport and interrogated under section 12 of the UK’s Terrorism Act. He later said the incident constituted “political persecution” and hampered his ability to work as a journalist.
In a post on X on February 9, Medhurst called the accusations by the Austrian state prosecutor “wild”. He wrote that Austrian police had taken all his laptops and computers and he asked backers for financial contributions to replace his equipment.
