Police control asylum homes: Westbahnhof in the focus of security!

Police control asylum homes: Westbahnhof in the focus of security!

On Monday, June 2, the officers at the Vienna Westbahnhof carried out a focus campaign that draws attention to a sensitive topic: the fight against crime in one of the central transport nodes in Vienna. This action, which also included controls in the surrounding asylum homes, had the central goal of checking the legality of the stay and possible foreign police violations. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) was on site to accompany and support police work.

The Westbahnhof has emerged as a transshipment point in drug trafficking in recent years. Even violent clashes with injuries are not uncommon here. According to the Interior Ministry, it was therefore necessary to intensify the controls in the basic supply quarters in which many asylum seekers are housed. The police focused on identifying signs of social work abuse and radicalization, such as showing flags of terrorist organizations.

results of the controls

Two foreign laws and four advertisements were registered with the campaign, and 140 identity assessments were made. Fortunately, no obvious signs of radicalization could be found. This success report is particularly important, since since the beginning of 2023 there have been 2,192 focus campaigns in Vienna, in which a total of 1,198 advertisements and almost 200 arrests, including 30 minors, have been documented.

In 2024, 5,188 focus campaigns with 728 arrests were registered, which underlines the continued necessity of such controls. In this context, 32 weapons, drugs and over 13,000 euros in cash came to the evidence chamber. Such results are part of a strategic planning, which is considered necessary by the Interior Minister to ensure the security of the city.

A look at the crime in Vienna

The general situation of crime in Austria shows a worrying increase. Around 528,000 crimes were reported in 2023, the highest level since 2016. Over a third of the crimes displayed in Vienna were localized, including about 85,400 thefts - the highest value so far. One focus is also on drug crime, which shows an increase in around 35,400 crimes, where Vienna recorded over 9,960 of these offenses. The most common addictive remains cannabis, while 50 % of Austrians support legalization.

Another interesting detail is the question of foreign crime, which has been discussed again and again in recent years. According to reports, around 43 % of the suspects and convicted foreigners were reported in 2022. These statistics contribute to a widespread opinion: 70 % of Austrians believe that immigrants tighten the problem of crime. In view of such figures, the continuous controls in key points such as the Westbahnhof should continue to be indispensable.

More about the current situation and the results of the controls can be found in the detailed reports of Nachrichten.at , as well as the comprehensive statistics on crime in Austria on Statista.com .