“We know how pain can paralyze a city” «kleinezeitung.at

The attack in Vienna ensures greater operational readiness in Graz. Graz has recently been arming itself against possible attacks, since the uproar in 2015, since the fire attacks on the authorities and since the attacks on the Jewish community in the summer.

1:47 pm, November 03, 2020

After the terrorist attack on Monday in the capital, a three-day state duel was decided, in Graz, for example, the town hall and other central buildings in Graz have black flags. “I am deeply shocked by the terrorist attack in Vienna and in my thoughts on the victims, their families and the Viennese people. Such cowardly attacks are an attack on our peaceful coexistence”, says Mayor Siegfried Nagl on the facts: “These facts have in our constitutional Austria there is no place and in Graz we know how pain can paralyze a city and that here only solidarity can give comfort ”.

The police got more prepared

The attack in Vienna has also put the executive in the Styrian capital “in greater readiness,” according to a spokesman for the state police department on Monday.

Synagogue and other protected buildings

There are explicitly no incidents Synagogue of graz and other buildings are under constant surveillance after the August attacks. The Israelitische Kultusgemeinde (IKG) closed all synagogues in Austria, including those in Graz, after the terrorist attack on Monday night.

As planned, there were more and more patrols in Graz during the night due to the closure, which began on November 3 at midnight. “Fortunately, we were well positioned to monitor coronavirus measures,” an official told the APA. At the Graz synagogue there was a double guard in the morning, the police officers wore Kevlar helmets, abrasion-resistant vests and assault rifles.

The door to the inner courtyard of the Graz synagogue was closed, in the inner courtyard policemen could be seen taking cover behind the corners of the house and looking at the Grieskai in front of the church. “But we have no indication that an attack is also planned in Styria,” a police spokesman said upon request. The presence in public spaces, in central squares and, for example, in shopping centers has increased. It would be used both on foot and in vehicles.

False reports circulate about planned attack in Graz

In a share on social media Voicemail Regarding a planned attack in Graz, the Styrian police note that this is clearly a false report:

Increase in media inquiries at the Graz mayor’s office

The mayor’s office is in close contact with the executive, he says Christian Köberl, Speaker of the city chief Siegfried Nagl. There are currently several media inquiries in the city hall, because the last major operation took place in Graz due to the uproar in 2015 and then the fire attacks on the authorities in the state capital.

How Graz recently prepared against attacks

Both incidents resulted in increased security measures. The places in Graz are now always being converted after a safety assessment of the emergency services. At Kaiser-Josef-, Loan- and the newly built Bertha-von Suttner-Platz, concrete elements have been installed that serve as benches, but at the same time also Obstacles against car ramming are. In some offices in Graz and also in the Styrian district authorities, in addition Security gates Installed.

“The network between emergency services has also been expanded to better ensure the security situation in public spaces,” adds Köberl. This way, in an emergency (in case of terrorism, big fires or accidents) one can communicate and react even faster with each other. This was a national lesson from 2015, which has now also demonstrated in Vienna the speed with which the police acted and the cooperation between emergency services.

The mayor of Graz, Nagl, upset

Also the mayor of Graz Siegfried Nagl He is shocked by the attacks in Vienna, and memories of the 2015 uproar in Graz surfaced immediately. Back then, Nagl was on the scene.