Attack on Vösendorf's mayor: has the willingness to use violence increased?

Attack on Vösendorf's mayor: has the willingness to use violence increased?

In the Austrian Vösendorf, a violent attack on the mayor, Mr. Koza, shook the community. The ÖVP politician was attacked in the Schlosspark on Tuesday evening. He got a slap in the face and got threats of violence. "You will not survive the council meeting on Wednesday," he was threatened. After the incident, Koza had herself examined in the hospital and filed a complaint. Despite the injuries that affected him externally, he said that he was doing well again. He described the incident as a "border crossing" that endangered his security, how vienna.at reported.

Separate security measures introduced

In response to the attack, special surveillance by civilian and uniformed civil servants was ordered to increase the "feeling of security" in the community. The investigation carried out by the Vösendorf police inspection and the State Office for State Security and Extremism are directed against unknown persons for assault and dangerous threats. At a municipal council meeting on Wednesday, however, a factual atmosphere took over the action, where the budget input for 2025 was discussed, reported noe.ORF.at.

This type of violence against politicians is contrasting to general security in Austria, but, especially after the murder of a mayor in the Mühlviertel, is a strong alarm sign for the country's political landscape. While attacks on politicians in Germany increase, this kind of incident in Austria has so far been rare. The effects of this attack on the political climate in Vösendorf and beyond are still unclear, but raise important questions about the protection of officials.