Leftist demonstrators and FPÖ sympathizers clashed violently Friday evening during the closing event of the FPÖ rally.
FPÖ front man Heinz-Christian Strache verbally attacked Muslims and the grand coalition which runs the government. In his speech he said that Austria has no place for mosques and minarets. He also dislikes seeing “all covered up women” in the streets and pointed out that violence against women can not be tolerated. In conclusion, Austrians would’t neither walk through Ankara with miniskirts nor having there a roast pork barbecue, he said.
During his speech the demonstrators tried to get through the police barrier and laid incendiary compositions. After Strache ended his speech demonstrators and FPÖ sympathizers clashed in smaller tumults. The police arrested several rioters and was busy to protect non involved pedestrians.
SPÖ and the Green party blame Strache for the riots. Local party secretary Harry Kopietz (SPÖ) said: “who sows violence – even verbal violence – will reap violence.”
