Austrian court convicts seven men of neo-Nazi activity

An Austrian court convicted seven men of neo-Nazi activity today, ranging from an 18-month suspended sentence to six years in prison without parole. The Austrian Press Agency reports that the trial was accompanied by strict security measures.

Those convicted ranged in age from 23 to 33 and were members of the neo-Nazi group Objekt 21. Five of them were in that group’s leadership.

The jury took seven hours to reach its verdict and noted that the punishments are meant to have a deterrent effect and that there were no mitigating circumstances to consider. The trial began on 24 October.

The verdict has yet to take effect. Two of those convicted have already appealed, while the others requested time to consider.