The British government has issued a warning regarding potential terrorist attacks in Austria. On the official website, it is stated that it is likely that terrorists may carry out attacks in Austria. However, the Austrian Interior Ministry assures that this warning applies to other European countries such as Germany, France, Belgium and Sweden as well.
The Austrian Interior Ministry emphasizes that this is a general security assessment and does not specifically target any threats related to Easter celebrations. There is no indication of impending attacks at Easter markets or similar events. In Germany and France, the warning is even stronger, stating that attacks are “very likely.”
The British warning does not mention specific locations or events in Austria, but it refers to general potential targets such as public transportation, religious sites, government buildings, or large gatherings of people. A recent example of such security risks is the thwarted terrorist attack in Villach in February.
Austria remains at the second-highest level of the terror warning scale. Since the Hamas attack on Israel last autumn, police presence in public areas has been increased. These measures will continue, especially during large events like Easter celebrations.
The British warning has sparked political reactions. The FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) criticized Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) severely. General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz described the minister’s behavior in the security strategy area as “total failure.