After a meeting of the crisis cabinet, the government leadership called for more vigilance and social cohesion due to the recent escalation in the Middle East. There is no acute risk of an attack in Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) emphasized to journalists after the meeting at the Defense Ministry. “There is currently no concrete threat,” he said. Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) nevertheless called for additional monitoring options.
“Data protection is important, but human protection is more important,” Karner said. To protect people, “changes will be needed in some areas,” the interior minister said, without giving details. He previously mentioned the example of the Brussels attacker, who became radicalized on the Darknet. Such individual perpetrators, who are currently causing the executive the most headaches, are “difficult to monitor”.
“Look what is preached in mosques”
Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) said there would be “vastly increased surveillance of Hamas” and “friendly organizations” in Austria. People will look at “what is preached in the mosques on Fridays”. Kogler was committed to freedom of demonstration. It must be possible to demonstrate for the Palestinian people in Austria. However, applauding the Hamas massacres must be “strongly rejected.”
Nehammer also openly called on the population to help with this. Citizens must inform authorities “if they notice that individuals are starting to radicalize.” You need a lot of networking and ‘listening to society’ to combat the threat of terrorism. A “reminder” in this context should be that even Israel was “massively surprised” by Hamas’s latest terrorist attack, despite the most intensive intelligence activities.
“Don’t let the poison of Hamas rise”
The Chancellor also announced that he would meet with the President of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ), Ümit Vural, on Friday. The aim is to discuss together what can be done “to prevent the poison of the terrorist organization Hamas from spreading in Austrian society,” he said, referring to Hamas’s disinformation campaigns.
There is still “no finding” regarding the question of authorship of the attack on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the Gaza Strip. The stated number of victims “could in no way withstand criticism,” Nehammer said. At the same time, he emphasized that these victims were in any case victims of Hamas, “because without the terror of Hamas, there would be no military action (by Israel) in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip is also the hostage of Hamas,” he emphasized.
Austria increases humanitarian aid
After Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) did not speak to the press, it was left to Vice Chancellor Kogler to announce an increase in Austrian humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. “Austria will not interrupt humanitarian aid and will continue and expand it in some places,” he stressed. In this context, Kogler welcomed the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to the Gaza Strip, at the instigation of the US and the EU.
Blue helmets remain in Lebanon
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) confirmed that the Austrian peacekeepers will continue to serve in Lebanon despite the escalation. A possible evacuation will be decided and carried out by the command, but this cannot be foreseen “at the moment,” Tanner said, noting that there are also suitable shelters in the Austrian camp.
Karner thanked the Defense Minister for the further assistance deployment of federal army soldiers to protect Jewish and Israeli facilities in Austria, which was decided on Wednesday. This should last “as long as it takes”. Although there is an increased risk of terrorism due to the international situation, this is not concrete in the case of Austria. “There are currently no concrete attack plans for Austria,” the Interior Minister said.
Tougher action against demos?
Karner hinted that the executive branch could now take more forceful action against anti-Israel demonstrations. The responsible authorities would have to decide whether a meeting would be banned. “It is crucial that the police not only observe, but also intervene en masse when incidents occur,” said Karner, who specifically mentioned the burning of objects.
FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl reiterated his call for an “immediate asylum freeze” in connection with the crisis cabinet meeting. The “sympathy meetings for Islamist terrorist attacks” in Austria were “the direct result of years of ‘door-open policy’ for illegal mass immigration under the guise of asylum,” the former interior minister said.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
