For weeks, priority campaigns have been underway in Vienna to declare war on illegal fireworks. However, the number of police forces will be expanded again on Saturday, because the turn of the year is approaching. In any case, New Year’s Eve excesses will not be tolerated, the highest police station announces – as well as an increased presence in the city’s hot spots.
Last but not least, the escalated Halloween situation in Linz shows how quickly parties can get out of hand. That New Year’s Eve is no exception was noticed two years ago on the Reumannplatz in Favoriten. At that time, several youth groups had gathered unannounced and the situation escalated. In any case, this year potential focal points, such as in Favoriten, Floridsdorf and in Donaustadt, will be particularly targeted and a greater number of police officers will be made available.
No concrete information so far
Meetings would be discussed on social networks, but there were no concrete indications of appointments at possible hotspots until Thursday, he stressed Viennese police chief Gerhard Pürstl. “But we know that such arrangements are made at very short notice,” he added.
The New Year’s Eve route in Vienna is also under police surveillance. In an interview with the APA, Pürstl was “happy that the New Year’s Eve trail is continuing again (after two corona-related failures, take note)”. That means a certain concentration of large crowds, which is easier for the police to control in combination with “good event management”.
Pyrotechnics: “cause for concern”
There is no mercy with the ban on pyrotechnics, it was stressed. Pürstl warned that this would be strictly enforced. Due to the large number of seizures in recent weeks, including a large part of illegal fireworks, according to the police chief, this gives “concern” that a lot of fireworks are also used. According to Pürstl, these are serious violations – for example, serious danger to people or blowing up phone booths or mailboxes, although he had to admit that “we cannot carry out full control”.
Source: Krone
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