Vienna Emergency Services Prepared for New Year's Eve

On Wednesday, in addition to the regular police forces, 100 officers were deployed in Vienna, half of them on the New Year's Eve trail, according to Deputy Police President Dieter Csefan. Support came from 180 police officers from other federal states. The situation is also being monitored with drones and video surveillance. A search ordinance was in effect for the New Year's Eve trail from 12:00 PM to 6:00 AM on New Year's Day to ensure the safety of dangerous items such as weapons, pyrotechnics, gas spray bottles, or laser pointers.

For the First Time, Four Rescue Services Deployed on New Year's Eve in Vienna

Of course, the police will also monitor compliance with the regulations for the use and ignition of fireworks, it was stated. Just over the weekend, more than 1,000 illegal pyrotechnics were seized during targeted inspections. Additionally, for the first time this year, the Samaritan Association, Red Cross, Johanniter, and Malteser are jointly deployed in Vienna. The president of the Samaritan Association, Susanne Drapalik, mentioned around 100 volunteer and full-time paramedics and four emergency doctors who will be on site in the city center on Wednesday. "We will draw from the full," said Dimitris Nagl, deputy head of the rescue and ambulance services at the Vienna Red Cross.

New Year's Eve: House Searches by State Protection on Tuesday

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) pointed out on Tuesday that, in addition to the New Year's Eve trail, events in the federal states are also in the police focus. New Year's Eve is one of the "most intense nights for the police in Austria," said Karner. Therefore, the police are also relying this year on covert as well as visible presence against the backdrop of the globally increased terror threat level and the still applicable warning level 4 in Austria. However, there is no specific threat for New Year's Eve.

The responsible State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ) announced in this context that a raid by state protection officers in connection with illegal arms trade took place in Lower Austria on Tuesday. Pyrotechnic substances were seized that could also be used to manufacture explosives, said Leichtfried. Additionally, there were "awareness talks" with suspicious individuals in Lower Austria, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria, and Upper Austria.

Karner, Leichtfried, and the representatives of the emergency organizations expressed optimism that the New Year's Eve will also proceed peacefully this year. They are prepared for all eventualities, but hope for "as little work as possible," as was unanimously emphasized.

(APA/Red)

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