Image: APA/Max Slovencik
Of a “particularly challenging day” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (VP) spoke with regard to New Year’s Eve. The police will “Do everything humanly possible to ensure that the people of this country have a good start to the new year”. As reported, three suspected Islamists were arrested in Vienna a few days ago. The two men and the woman have been in custody since Monday. They are said to belong to a terrorist network that is said to have considered attacks on Cologne Cathedral and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Currently there is “There is no evidence of a specific threat to New Year’s Eve events”said Michael Lohnegger from the State Security and Intelligence Directorate yesterday. According to the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the general risk situation in Austria remains elevated. In addition, terror alert level 4, which has been in force since Hamas’ attack on Israel, still applies. There should be a large contingent of police “Ensure the safety of those who want to celebrate peacefully”said Karner.
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That’s why special units will be deployed over the turn of the year, and technical aids such as drones will also be used as additional security measures. Operational teams were formed in the individual federal states. “Rapid intervention teams are available in the countries to ensure the safety of major events.”
In addition to the access controls carried out by security personnel, the Vienna State Police Directorate also announced so-called search controls on the New Year’s Eve trail in the federal capital. The officers will be on duty both in uniform and in plain clothes. In addition, additional forces from the federal states of Lower Austria, Salzburg, Carinthia and Burgenland are being called in to provide support.
Absolute ban on firecrackers
Austria’s police have also prepared for incidents involving pyrotechnic objects. The Interior Minister emphasized that pyrotechnics from category 2 onwards – including flash bangers, Swiss firecrackers, all rockets, firecrackers, jumping wheels and the like – are expressly prohibited in the local area. “These are not mischievous pranks”he said at a press conference yesterday. A total of 20,000 illegal pyrotechnic items have been confiscated at the border crossings with the Czech Republic, i.e. in northern Upper and Lower Austria, in the past few weeks.
Absolute bans on the use of firecrackers, bangers, etc. apply near gas stations, churches and hospitals. Most accidents and dangerous incidents involving pyrotechnic products are due to carelessness, inattention, improper use or misuse.
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Source: Nachrichten
