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Interior Minister Nehammer, Integration Minister Raab and Director General of Public Security Ruf reported on investigations into the unrest of the demonstrations in Favoriten
Vienna (OTS) – Following the violent riots in Vienna-Favoriten in June this year, during which Turkish activists attacked a peaceful Kurdish demonstration and also police officers, intensive investigations were carried out. “In the course of the demonstration, 207 people were searched, 27 of whom were again known to the criminal and state police,” Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said at a press conference with Integration Minister Susanne Raab , and Director General of Public Safety Franz Ruf on September 1, 2020 at Home Office.
As a result, the Director General of Public Security established a special commission (SOKO) to verify whether the Turkish secret service had anything to do with these riots. “These investigations have shown that a confessing person was recruited by the Turkish secret service to spy on people with a Turkish and Austrian migration background and report them to the Turkish authorities,” Nehammer said.
“We have a clear message for the Turkish Republic: Turkish espionage and Turkish interference in civil liberties have no place in Austria,” Nehammer said. “The right of assembly is a valuable asset in Austria, and we do not tolerate any violence on the streets of Austria. We will therefore continue to investigate intensively in all directions.”
Interior Minister Nehammer also briefed his counterpart, German Interior Minister and EU Council President for the Interior, Horst Seehofer, on the status of the investigation. “We will also work at the European level to ensure that Turkey does not interfere in the internal affairs of the EU states,” Nehammer said.
The Interior Minister also reported on a 46-year-old Austrian who was accused of participating in a demonstration against Erdogan in Innsbruck. He was presented with a photo in which he was photographed while participating in the demonstration in Innsbruck. The man was detained without trial for three months and 15 days in 2018.
Occasionally: SOKO investigated suspects and personal networks.
The Director General of Public Security, Franz Ruf, reported that 42 complaints of fights, bodily injury and property damage were filed during the demonstration, as well as seven complaints in accordance with the Symbols Act (“Wolfsgruß”).
The SOKO established by him is administered by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Against Terrorism, together with the State Offices for the Protection of the Constitution and Against Terrorism. “There are indicators that the Turkish intelligence service has influenced the riots in Vienna-Favoriten. The special commission investigated the suspects and personal networks,” Ruf said.
As a result of these demonstration riots, 35 people were immediately separated upon entering Turkey and detained and interrogated by police officers and secret service officials. They were accused of being close to Turkish-Kurdish associations and of insulting President Erdogan.
Occasionally: Austria has become a target country for Turkish espionage.
“Austria has become a target country for Turkish espionage. The Turkish secret service is exerting influence over individuals, associations and mosques,” said Integration Minister Susanne Raab. “Erdogan’s long arm reaches Vienna-Favoriten and that is a poison for integration in Austria. We do not tolerate this influence.”
The breeding ground for isolated environments under Turkish influence could lead to parallel societies. Therefore, security policy approaches and integration policies are needed, Raab said. “We have to make people want to help shape Austria in a positive way and not transport Turkish politics to our country. We will fight all these influences trying to drive a wedge in Austrian society and the Turkish community in Austria.” said the Minister of Integration.
Queries and contact:
Federal Ministry of the Interior
Daniela Fazekas
Press spokesman for the Federal Minister
+43 (0) 1-531-26-90 1103
daniela.fazekas@bmi.gv.at
www.bmi.gv.at
