Since the beginning of the year, unannounced gatherings of climate activists have kept the police on their toes. The actions are heating up emotions across the country. In May alone, 166 arrests were made during the meetings. 432 reports were made. The balance sheet shows: Vienna is the hotspot of climate action.
Also in May, the focus of climate activists was on the capital. While one unannounced meeting took place in Styria and two in Tyrol, 33 meetings were reported in Vienna. 166 people were arrested. “The police consistently intervene where people are threatened or disabled. All legally permitted resources have been exhausted,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP).
“Paste and Let Paste”
“As long as no one is disturbed or hindered by the protest, the motto is ‘stick and let it stick’,” Karner explains, not for the first time, and also thanks the officials for their support. Professionalism in often difficult situations.
From the beginning of the year through June 1, there have been 118 unannounced rallies nationwide, with nearly 40 criminal charges and 1,670 administrative charges filed. In addition, 390 arrests were made during this period, 380 of which were in Vienna alone. The capital is also the state with the most unannounced gatherings (82), criminal charges (30) and administrative charges (916).
No disruptive actions in Burgenland
Another hotspot for activists in recent months has been Styria: There were eleven unannounced meetings and 495 administrative complaints and two arrests. Burgenland is apparently excluded from the disruptive actions: there have been no demos there so far.
Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN), and Interior Minister Karner have already stated that radical climate activists would also be under surveillance by the Bureau for the Protection of the Constitution. “In this way, the New Year’s concert could be prevented from being disrupted,” says Karner. Still, he emphasizes: “Of course, people who are committed to protecting the environment cannot necessarily be classified as anti-constitutional.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.