Despite the escalation of violence in the Middle East, a pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in Innsbruck on Tuesday evening. According to police, about 400 demonstrators marched through the streets. The recorded demo went smoothly. But there were three reports – partly because a knife had been discovered.
The participants gathered at the Anna Column on Maria-Thérèsien-Straße in the heart of the capital around 5:30 PM. Accompanied by music and surrounded by a large Palestinian flag, it was mainly young men who took to the streets. “The demonstration started at 6.40 pm with around 400 participants. The planned route was followed, there was traffic disruption for a short time,” the police said.
Various speeches in different languages followed on the market square of Innsbruck. Moments later, the speeches made clear the exact purpose of the demonstration, with leaflets reading about the “genocide of the Palestinian people”. According to the executive, the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was sung by a speaker at the microphone and then by the participants of the meeting. Four people carried signs with this text. “To determine whether the cited slogans are criminal, statements of fact will be sent to the Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office for criminal assessment,” the officials said.
Masked participants and knives discovered
The meeting was canceled by the chairman around 8 p.m The chairman of the meeting dissolved and declared that the meeting was over. The demo went off without any major incidents, although a knife was discovered on one participant. He is reported, as are two people who violated the face mask ban.“In total Ten identity checks have been carried out,” the police said.
The Tyrolean SPÖ leader Georg Dornauer has absolutely no understanding for the demonstration. “I speak out clearly against any activities or even public demonstrations that call for the destruction of the State of Israel. “Such a thing is out of the question given the recent atrocities,” the deputy governor said. And the demonstration was also greeted with displeasure by Tyrolean FPÖ state party chairman Markus Abwerzger. “Innsbruck is not a suitable location for international conflicts. It is a scandal, especially in light of recent European history, that a demonstration against the State of Israel is approved,” Abwerzger said.
Police: The right of assembly is a valuable asset
Bans on similar demonstrations were recently imposed in Vienna and Graz. The head of public relations for the Tyrolean police, Manfred Dummer, emphasized to the APA at lunch that Tuesday’s meeting had been registered correctly and within the planned deadline. Then, as usual, an individual case assessment was performed. Particular attention should be paid to constitutional rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. “A demonstration can only be banned in absolutely exceptional cases,” the spokesperson emphasizes. Such exceptional cases are ‘concrete indications of criminal offenses’ and a potential ‘threat to public order’. According to a detailed examination by specialists, neither was present in this case. Dummer also referenced video surveillance of the meeting.
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.
