"It is shameful"

“Blood attack” at anti-Semitism conference

The attack on the minister was prevented just in time.

(Bild: Mena-Watch)

Early on Monday morning, there was a "blood attack" on Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) in front of the Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). The background to the attack with red paint is said to be the annual international conference against anti-Semitism.

According to the report, an activist (36) attempted to attack the minister and other participants with red paint at around 9.15 am. According to the police, he had loudly shouted politically motivated slogans relating to the Middle East conflict and blocked the entrance to the academy. The police forces present were able to prevent the action just in time and intervene. Pictures show masses of red paint in front of the entrance to the academy, resembling a supposed pool of blood.

(Bild: Mena-Watch)

Preliminary arrest
The suspect was provisionally arrested. He will be charged under administrative and criminal law. However, the 36-year-old has since been released. 

The activist was a former member of the Last Generation protest movement. The protest was directed against the "normalization of genocide" and for a "ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, said activist David Sonnenbaum.

"Better networking against anti-Semitism"
"The Federal Minister for the EU and the Constitution is appalled that such actions are taking place at an event that focuses on better networking against anti-Semitism. It is shameful that a conference in Austria, which is dedicated to international networking in the fight against anti-Semitism, can no longer be held without police protection", Edtstadler said in a statement.

Extremism and anti-Semitism are poison for our society!

Karl Nehammer auf Social Media

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer also commented on the "blood attack" via social media: "This attack crosses the line. Extremism and anti-Semitism are poison for our society! We will continue to fight these forms of extremism with all constitutional means!"

Cases of anti-Semitism on the rise
It was only on the night of May 1st that numerous anti-Semitic slogans such as "Death to Zionism" and "Victory to Palestine" were painted on the walls of a Jewish owner's house in Vienna's Leopoldstadt district. In response, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) and IKG President Oskar Deutsch painted over the slogans on the store's façade again on Monday in the presence of Israeli Ambassador David Roet.

Two-day conference in Vienna
The two-day anti-Semitism conference is being held in Vienna for the third time on the initiative of Constitutional Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP). Experts want to jointly discuss measures against anti-Semitism and develop new initiatives. According to the Jewish Community, the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents in Austria quintupled between October and the end of the year alone. The number of unreported cases is far higher.