Identitarians against leftists

Sellner takes part: Identitarians march through Vienna

Pyrotechnics were set off at the demonstration

(Bild: LPD Wien)

The far-right Identitarian Movement Austria once again called for a rally in Vienna's city center on Saturday. The former head of the movement, Martin Sellner, was also present. Meanwhile, the left-wingers organized a counter-demonstration. There were clashes with the police. Three officers were injured and several arrests were made. 

In the area of Kohlmarkt and Michaelerplatz, people wearing masks tried to disrupt or prevent the Identitarian march. They set off pyrotechnic objects in the process.

Sit-in blockade broken up
In the area of Reitschulgasse, the left-wing counter-demonstrators formed a sit-in blockade. This was broken up.

A damaged police car

(Bild: LPD Wien)

(Bild: LPD Wien)

(Bild: LPD Wien)

Arrests
"In the course of this, people were arrested after they maintained the blockade despite being asked to do so and therefore did not leave the site of the unlawful assembly", the police said.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Alex HALADA)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

(Bild: AFP)

In the meantime, the march was briefly stopped in the area of Josefplatz and then diverted in the direction of Freyung.

Masked people attacked police officers
In the Fahnengasse area, masked people threw stones and bottles and attacked officers with pepper spray.

Pepper spray used
Several times, masked people in small groups tried to disrupt the march and the final rally on Freyung. However, this was prevented by the police. During the police operation, several weapons were used, including pepper spray.

Patrol car damaged
The front and rear windows of a police patrol car were damaged by as yet unknown perpetrators. Three police officers suffered injuries during the operation.

So far, more than 100 identities have been established, 43 people have been provisionally arrested and several criminal and administrative charges have been laid.

Thanks to the level-headed intervention of the emergency services, it was possible to prevent a clash between rival groups.

Polizei Wien

"Explosive atmosphere"
"The atmosphere was explosive at times. Thanks to the measures laid down in the operational planning and the level-headed intervention of the emergency services throughout the operation, it was possible to prevent a clash between rival groups," said the police. 

Interior Minister praises police
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) praised the efforts of the police. "The police in Austria are the guarantors and protectors of the rule of law.
Crimes, especially those committed during demonstrations, are consistently prosecuted by the police - regardless of whether they are committed by left-wing or right-wing extremists or other enemies of democracy."

Proximity to Identitarians: Greens and SPÖ attack FPÖ
The Greens and SPÖ had already sharply criticized the event in advance and pointed out personal links between Identitarians and the FPÖ. Eva Blimlinger, the Greens' spokesperson for commemorative politics, had called on Karner to "put a stop to the right-wing extremist activities" and encouraged people to take part in the counter-demonstrations. "They want nothing other than the end of our pluralistic democratic society and instead a closed, authoritarian society sorted according to ethnic criteria," she warned.

"We are clearly saying: not a single foot in the way of right-wing extremism", SPÖ Federal Managing Director Sandra Breiteneder had also pointed out Austria's special responsibility and warned that under an FPÖ-led government, "völkisch-nationalist ideologies would once again become socially acceptable". She had called on Interior Minister Karner "not to look the other way at the march, but to prevent and consistently punish breaches of the law".