10/22/2023 00:20 (current 10/22/2023 00:30)
On Saturday night, an Israeli flag was torn down from the Vienna City Temple. A video showing a man taking part in the likely politically motivated action was posted online late in the evening by Bini Guttmann, a board member of the World Jewish Congress. According to “Kurier”, the police confirmed the incident. It is said to have happened at 2 am. According to the police, they are still looking for the perpetrators of the crime.
The perpetrator was supported by another young man who placed him on his shoulders. A young woman standing nearby imitates a machine gun.
For Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens), it is “completely unacceptable” that “such anti-Semitic provocation” took place in front of the Vienna City Temple in the current situation. This must be “clarified as quickly as possible” – and “just like the apparent lack of vigilance on the part of the executive forces”.
Green Party representative Georg Bürstmayr is horrified by the crime on X (formerly Twitter). He will immediately investigate the question of why this was possible “and what exactly did not happen here.” Jewish institutions are protected by the police and army, but apparently sometimes only during opening hours.
Vienna’s deputy mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) called the incident “simply disturbing.” Attacking a Jewish institution and filming yourself must have consequences: “I expect severe punishment for this open anti-Semitism.”