The city of Linz announced on Saturday in a press release that visitors to the stalls at the main square, the Volksgarten and the market in front of the New Cathedral would be protected by "technical security measures". The Vienna police said that the extensive security measures would be "intensified at a high level". The Ministry of the Interior expressed similar sentiments.

The police will have an increased presence at the markets, as announced by the acting deputy mayor of Linz, Dietmar Prammer (SPÖ), and city councillor for security, Michael Raml (FPÖ). As a spokeswoman for the Upper Austrian police told the APA, the Advent markets throughout the federal state will now also be patrolled more intensively by the officers.

In the state of Salzburg, the police generally referred to the "security concept" that exists in advance for all events. A spokeswoman pointed out to the APA the "increased terror alert level" that already exists for Austria, therefore the templates would also be adapted accordingly.

No Indications of Threat in Austria in Connection with Deadly Rampage in Magdeburg

From Vienna, it was reported that Austrian and German authorities are in close contact, but there is no connection or indications of a threat in Austria in connection with the deadly rampage in Germany. Nevertheless, the extensive security measures that have been in place since the beginning of the Advent season, especially in Vienna, were once again "intensified at a high level", said David Pawlik, spokesman for the Vienna State Police Directorate, on Saturday to the APA. He also pointed out in this context that the terror alert level 4 has been in effect in Austria without interruption since October 2023. The reason for this was the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7.

Ministry of the Interior on Domestic Christmas Markets

The Ministry of the Interior expressed similar sentiments to the Vienna police in a press release. A department spokesman pointed out that the Austrian Christmas markets are "well protected". This was also demonstrated by an incident on Friday in Vienna, when an armed person with Finnish citizenship was arrested.

The Styria State Police Directorate stated in response to an APA inquiry that colleagues who are on duty at the Advent markets have been sensitised to the situation once again. However, no additional police measures have been taken beyond those already in place. Many of the measures are not visible to the public - for example, foot patrols and officers in plain clothes. However, bollards and concrete blocks, which were set up around the Christmas markets as a security measure weeks ago, are very much visible. In addition, there is the so-called "robust area protection": heavily armed forces who are always ready near crowds. "But there can never be 100 percent security," it was emphasised.

The Carinthia State Police Directorate stated that even after the incidents in Magdeburg, they would stick to the proven deployment concept of recent years for the Christmas markets and critical points. No additional measures are planned.

The city of Klagenfurt announced on Saturday afternoon that protection around the Christkindlmarkt in the city centre had been precautionarily increased following the attack in Magdeburg. "In coordination with the Klagenfurt City Police Command, so-called anti-terror barriers have been set up to prevent any car or truck from driving uncontrollably onto the market," it said in a statement. Employees had delivered and placed the heavy concrete elements on Saturday morning.

In Vorarlberg, there is generally a higher police presence at Christmas markets. Due to the attack in Magdeburg, they are placing an increased focus on security in public places over the weekend, a police spokesperson said on request.

Increased Security Measures at Lower Austrian Advent Markets

The security measures at Lower Austrian Advent markets have also been increased. There are now more officers on duty, both in plain clothes and in uniform, police spokesman Johann Baumschlager told the APA. At the same time, he emphasised that there were no specific indications of a threat to Christmas markets, especially not in Lower Austria.

The Burgenland State Police Directorate succinctly stated that the presence of uniformed patrols had "naturally" been increased.

(APA/Red)

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