Austria probes far-right MP’s ex-aide over neo-Nazi assault of taxi driver

A former parliamentary staffer for an Austrian far-right lawmaker has been embroiled in an investigation into the assault of a taxi driver blamed on neo-Nazi extremists, public media reports.

Prosecutor Anika Maierhofer confirms to AFP that the authorities have opened a probe into suspected neo-Nazi activities and aggravated violence following the assault in the central city of Leoben.

The attack has sparked a backlash across the political spectrum against the Alpine nation’s far-right FPOe party, which was founded by former Nazis and has long been criticized for its extremist ties.

According to a witness cited by Austria’s APA press agency, a former FPOe parliamentary staffer is one of three suspects accused of the June 20 assault on the sidelines of a gathering of the far-right Leder society.

The incident erupted after the taxi driver refused to transport the trio, who had reportedly entered his vehicle, chanted neo-Nazi slogans and made the Hitler salute.

After the driver alerted the emergency services, the passengers attempted to flee the scene, which the victim tried to prevent to allow the police to identify the suspects. The suspects are then accused of hitting the driver, with one of them strangling the victim and throwing him to the ground.