New attacks on Israeli flags in Austria
Following the lowering of the Israeli flag from the city temple in downtown Vienna on Saturday night, well documented on video, similar events took place in the cities of Salzburg and Linz on Sunday evening. The Israeli flag, hoisted in front of the Mirabell Palace in Salzburg in solidarity with… New attacks have occurred on Israeli flags in Austria, with one incident occurring at Mirabellplatz. The lock of the flagpole was broken and the flag was delivered to the city without damage. The first incident occurred in Salzburg on October 12, with two 14-year-old boys identified as the suspected perpetrators. Damages of up to 100 euros were paid by the perpetrators. The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution stated that there was no fundamental reason for the attacks related to the security of the state. The Israeli flag was destroyed in the Old Town Hall in Linz for the second time. The city of Linz raised the Israeli flag again on Monday. Following the anti-Israel demonstrations, Austrian Minister of Internal Affairs (ÖVP) emphasized the increased security of Jewish institutions in Austria.
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New attacks on Israeli flags in Austria
According to the police report, at around 19:45 on Sunday, a taxi driver reported that an Israeli flag was on the ground at Mirabellplatz. It turned out that the lock of the flagpole was broken. The flag was delivered to the city without damage. No witnesses have been interrogated yet and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has been informed. Forensics is involved and there may also be useful footage from a surveillance camera installed in front of the castle.
First incident with Israeli flag in Salzburg
According to video footage, two 14-year-old boys were identified as the suspected perpetrators just a few days after the first incident in Salzburg on October 12. Both admitted and stated that the reason was hastiness. According to the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism, there was no fundamental reason related to the security of the state. Damages of up to 100 euros were compensated by the perpetrators and both were reported.
Israeli flag destroyed in the Old Town Hall in Linz
The Israeli flag was destroyed in the Old Town Hall in Linz for the second time on Sunday. City police commander Karl Pogutter reported that around 6 p.m., a teenager ripped the flag from the pole and then trampled it along with two other people. One of the kids must have taken the flag with him. A video is currently being examined to find clues to the perpetrators. In fact, those two young Syrians were not the ones who cut down the Israeli flag that was lowered to half-mast in front of the Old City Hall on the night of October 12.
The city of Linz raised the Israeli flag again on Monday. “Once again, as mayor of the Peace City of Linz, I am absolutely against all forms of violence, exclusion and degrading of state or religious symbols. Our city is a place of diversity and free expression,” stressed Mayor Klaus Luger (SPÖ).
Meanwhile, after days of debate and an urgent motion at the last city council meeting, an Israeli flag is being hung in Graz’s city hall as a sign of solidarity. KPÖ and Mayor Elke Kahr opposed this and wanted only the clock tower and the town hall to be illuminated in Israeli colors as a visible sign. The ÖVP still submitted a proposal for the flag and won the majority.
Minister of Internal Affairs Karner (ÖVP) once again drew attention to the measures taken at the press conference he held on Monday: “We, as the police, are doing everything humanly possible to ensure the safety of the Jewish population in Austria,” he said. Whether the Jewish population in Austria is safe. Karner pointed out that personal meetings were held with Oskar Deutsch, President of the Vienna Jewish Community (IKG). They recently thanked us in a letter for our good cooperation, Karner said. “We have a special historical responsibility to the Jewish community,” Karner said.
The security of Jewish institutions was clearly increased, including both covert and visible security. In Vienna, for example, the protection of the city temple is coordinated between the Vienna State Police Department, the synagogue and the IKG. Karner emphasized that he cannot and should not give information about details or individual objects.
When asked about the anti-Israel demonstrations also held in Austria, the minister said that all the means available to the constitutional state were used. For example, he talked about 300 ID checks after the demonstration at Stephansplatz in Vienna. Karner said chanting slogans such as “Death to Israel” “makes you sick to your stomach.”