The federal government continues to deal with violent riots following demonstrations by Kurds and leftists, which had been disrupted by Turkish ultra-nationalist and extreme right-wing opponents. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) announced on Monday that there would be consistent prosecution of every crime and a round table with the protection of the constitution and the integration fund.
“Every crime is consistently prosecuted”
Last week, four days in a row, violent attacks by Turkish extremists on participants in the Kurdish demos and the police occurred in Vienna’s favorites, but the officials, who were on the spot by the hundreds, were also threatened from the left. Stones, firecrackers and glass bottles flew. The balance according to Interior Minister Nehammer: seven injured police officers and an injured service dog, eleven arrests, 57 notices and 220 identity checks. There is extensive picture material that is currently being evaluated, “every crime is rigorously prosecuted”.
At a press conference on Monday, Nehammer was annoyed that it was “completely unacceptable” that Turkish conflicts were being carried out on Austrian territory. “We and the police will do everything we can to assemble without fear of disturbing the assembly,” he said. “The police are the guardians of fundamental and freedom rights.” Nehammer said that he had instructed the intelligence agency to conduct an intensive investigation into who was behind the escalation. “We certainly do not allow freedom and democracy to be endangered in Austria.”
A couple of hundred teenagers
The police are now more present in favorites. State Police Vice President Franz Eigner was surprised by the high, rapid degree of mobilization of the violent, predominantly young men. He spoke of a “phenomenon that we have not encountered so often”, namely that a hard core of a few hundred young people can be ordered quickly and at short notice to where. Dozens of small groups have acted against the police. Owing to the “massive attacks” with iron bars, pyrotechnics and glass bottles, it was very difficult to protect the assembly (the Kurds and the left, note), said owner. No further demonstrations have been announced at the moment, but it is assumed that spontaneous manifestations or “rallies” will probably take place, said owner upon request.
Nehammer denied that the right-wing extremist organization of the Gray Wolves had been underestimated – the Office for the Protection of the Constitution observed the scene “very closely”. It was now necessary to clarify whether the forbidden wolf greeting was only used by the men who were prepared to use violence to provoke the Kurds, or whether the organization of the Gray Wolves was actually behind it.
round table
Nehammer promised to hold a round table with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Integration, the Protection of the Constitution, the Director General for Public Security and the Integration Fund later this week. The Home Secretary also plans to report the incidents to the National Security Council. The remaining measures mentioned at the press conference were already known. The Turkish ambassador was quoted in the State Department for Monday. At a meeting last Friday, Turkish and Kurdish clubs had already been asked to cooperate.
Integration Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) confirmed that the Documentation Center for Political Islam should start operating this summer. The aim is to examine scientifically the networks and associations that are the breeding ground “for the extremist ideology of political Islam”. “Austria is not a venue for Turkish conflicts,” she said. If violence is used, it is “over with tolerance”. It is not about general condemnation of people with a migration background, but individual migrant groups would isolate themselves, and there are also some attempts from abroad to exert influence. She wanted the Turkish ambassador to clearly condemn the events.
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