Police Prepare for Clashes Between Identitarian Rally and Counter-Demonstrations in Vienna

A right-wing Identitarian assembly is set for Saturday in Vienna under the banner “Heroes of Vienna! Commemoration of the second Turkish siege of 1682,” with the organizers estimating around 200 attendees at Kahlenberg. Simultaneously, two anti-Identitarian protests have been filed: a standing rally at Leopoldsberg and a larger march of about 300 participants in the Heiligenstadt area.

Unlike a previous attempt to block a similar march in the city centre, this event has not been prohibited. The Vienna state police have announced that they will station adequate personnel at each location to avert clashes and limit any potential disturbances. Their goal is to prevent the opposing crowds from meeting and to maintain public order throughout the day.