Vienna New Year's Eve: Massive security precautions against extremism!

Vienna New Year's Eve: Massive security precautions against extremism!

In Austria, preparations for the turn of the year are in full swing. Despite the lack of concrete threats, as Interior Minister Gerhard Karner explained, the threat level remains high. In particular, experiences from past incidents, such as the attack in Magdeburg, lead to increased security precautions. The police will do everything in their power to ensure the safety of the public, said Karner in a press conference. A central focus is on combating extremism and identifying and preventing potentially dangerous people.

Massive police presence for New Year's Eve

A large contingent of security forces is planned for New Year's Eve. Special and special units will be present directly in public spaces, similar to the Christmas markets. Loud weekend.at Vienna will be the center of the measures, where around a million visitors are expected on the New Year's Eve trail. The police will use open controls, undercover investigators and modern technical means such as drones to identify potential threats at an early stage.

Additional attention is paid to the handling of illegal fireworks. Minister Karner warned that the use of illegal firecrackers is not a “mischievous prank” but can become increasingly dangerous. Since November, around 10,000 illegal fireworks have been confiscated to prevent accidents. Police will also crack down on the illegal trade and users of dangerous pyrotechnics, with fines of up to 10,000 euros for dealers and 3,600 euros for users of illegitimate fireworks, such as 5min.at reported. These strict measures are intended to significantly increase safety on New Year's Eve.