Austria is Now Stepping Up Security at Jewish Institutions
Heute, May 19, 2024
German original: https://www.heute.at/s/oesterreich-bewacht-juedische-einrichtungen-nun-verstaerkt-120037348
On Saturday, the federal government announced that it would be stepping up its surveillance of Jewish properties and institutions, especially in Vienna.
The federal government has decided to take measures to further strengthen the protection of Jewish institutions in Austria, according to a statement from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) on Saturday. The threat situation in Europe and Austria has changed since the “brutal and inhuman terrorist attack by Hamas on the state of Israel” on October 7, 2023.
Jewish institutions in particular have become the focus of radicals and extremists throughout Europe. The Federal Ministry of the Interior had already implemented increased security measures “in close consultation” with the Jewish Religious Society. These measures are now being further intensified in cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces, it is said.
These are the new measures
The Austrian Armed Forces will further strengthen the security police assistance mission for the protection of objects, especially in the federal capital Vienna.
All measures will be permanently adapted to the current security situation - above all in close cooperation and collaboration with the Jewish Religious Society.
The Austrian Armed Forces support the surveillance of objects worthy of protection and Jewish institutions in order to jointly ensure greater security.
“We are further strengthening the protection of Jewish institutions. We do not accept anti-Semitic harassment, attacks or assaults on Jewish institutions and will punish them with the utmost determination. The Jewish community in Austria has a reliable partner in the Federal Government,” said Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP).
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) added that both the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution were taking “consistent action against all forms of radicalization and extremism in Austria”. “An attack and agitation on and against the Jewish community is also an attack against our nation. We are therefore increasing the personnel resources of the Austrian Armed Forces by 50 people for the necessary protection of Jewish institutions,” concluded Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP).
In a nutshell
The federal government has decided to strengthen the protection of Jewish institutions in Austria due to the threat situation following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel
Increased security measures will be implemented in cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces to prevent anti-Semitic attacks
Federal Chancellor Nehammer emphasizes the government's determination to punish attacks on Jewish institutions, while Interior Minister Karner and Defence Minister Tanner support the measures against radicalization and extremism