Austria: Protest expected in Vienna February 7 /update 2

Event

A protest is slated to be held in Vienna at 18:00 (local time) on Thursday, February 7, as part of an ongoing series of weekly demonstrations. The gathering is set to begin outside the University of Vienna. A heightened security presence and transportation disruptions are to be expected near the demonstration site.   

Context

Anti-government protesters have staged weekly protests on consecutive Thursdays since October 2018 to denounce the far-right components of the current governing coalition. Though the original impetus for the protests centered around Austria's new environmental and immigration policies, the scope of the protesters' grievances has expanded in subsequent protests.

Advice

Individuals in Vienna are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.