The number of right-wing extremist incidents in Austria rose by 30% in 2023.
In Austria, instances of right-wing extremism surged by 30% during the past year, with over 1,200 documented cases in 2023, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior in Vienna. Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN), stated that the frequency of incidents under the National Socialist Prohibition Act rose significantly after the violent assault by the Islamist group Hamas on Israel. Haijawi-Pirchner raised alarm about the growing number of right-wing extremist members possessing weapons during a press conference on the annual constitutional protection report.
Additionally, Haijawi-Pirchner noted that right-wing extremist narratives were becoming more socially accepted, leading to a rise in recorded violent attacks. He also mentioned that damage to election posters during three state elections last year due to right-wing extremist motivations contributed to the overall increase in extreme right-wing acts.
Haijawi-Pirchner and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner underscored the increase in anti-Semitism linked to Islamist and radical left-wing backgrounds. Karner added that since the Hamas attack on Israel, there has been a rise in radicalization within Islamist extremism, prompting a more dangerous threat scenario. The Interior Minister further referenced the demonstrations organized by Islamists in Hamburg, emphasizing that such individuals advocating for a theocracy or a caliphate should be either apprehended or deported, given that Austrian law has criminalized religiously-motivated extremist organizations for several years.
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- Despite the increasing number of right-wing extremist offenses in Austria, which saw a 30% surge in 2023, the Ministry of the Interior continues to actively monitor and address these issues to maintain peace and security within the country.
- During his press conference on the annual constitutional protection report, Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, the head of DSN, revealed that over 1,200 incidents of right-wing extremism were documented in Austria last year, equating to a considerable 30% percent increase.
- The alarming rise in right-wing extremist offenses in Austria has prompted officials to take significant action, including strengthening the enforcement of laws against extremist organizations and introducing stricter penalties for those convicted of hate crimes, as demonstrated by the Interior Minister's stance on the issue.
Source: www.ntv.de
