Academics ball demonstrations paralyzed downtown Vienna

As in previous years, the Vienna's city center has been because of academics Balls and related demonstrations on Friday evening in a state of emergency . The City had been declared a high security zone , numerous space and roadblocks made ​​for a traffic chaos . While in the Hofburg was the controversial ball across the stage , talking opponents from protest marches and rallies , which - apart from some exploding firecrackers and eggs at police litters - this time all very quiet and peaceful went Short 20 clock there was near the Babenbergerstraße by the police only brief detentions to verify identities of several people . There was an arrest for belligerent behavior at the Museum Square , after the demonstrations , two other people were still detained briefly at Strauchgasse before Cafe Central .

It came in the Herrengasse to the formation of a police " boiler " , in which numerous people were detained longer time . A total of three people were arrested around the rallies for now . Whether it was a question of left or right activist , was initially unclear. Rumors that identitarian or Pegida - followers had infiltrated the demonstrators were not confirmed by the police . Two other ads in the Herrengasse A stir was caused the formation of the police " boiler " in front of the Cafe Central in the Herrengasse in the late evening . According to executive previously attacked near police by two people. The suspects then fled to a pending rally of the Association of Socialist Students ( VSStÖ ) in Herrengasse .

Therefore, it came to the encirclement of the people present there by the police , about 100 demonstrators were detained for about an hour . Later , the vessel was re-dissolved . Two people were shown on suspicion of resisting state authority and assault . It is unclear, according to police spokesman Johann Golob , whether it is left or right activists among those arrested . This will clarify the further investigation , according to police. Already in the afternoon demonstrators had moved to the Schottentor in the University , where , according to police about 3000 people gathered and their march began shortly after 18 clock through downtown . To Stephansplatz the amount grew to 5,000 people , which subsequently marched to Stubentor .Diverted demo on Heroes' Square
Am Stadtpark police taught by Tretgitter " than purely traffic- technical measure " a narrowing of the route a , whereby the demonstration stretched in the length : While the first participants already arrived at the Karlsplatz , the stragglers are still constrained by the artificial , four meters wide bottleneck , at which the participants were filmed . At 20.30 clock , participants were opposite the Hofburg , the venue of the academics Balls . The demonstration ended in the unlocked part of the Heroes' Square. On the edge of the demonstration also sporadically sit-ins were held .

2800 police on duty The organizers spoke of 10,000 participants , the police on the other hand from 5000. There were 2 800 police on duty while the demos were circling helicopter over the city . Already over 16 clock the area had been cordoned off a large area around the Hofburg , the traffic was diverted via the " two - line " , which caused the start of the holidays for other traffic delays . In addition, at 14.30 clock , the City bus lines 1A , 2A and 3A were set .the protesters had been accorded before the start of the march with speeches and slogans . That the demonstration this year was also marked by the refugee crisis , could be read on banners . The posters of the " offensive against law " it said , for example : " Escaped welcome distribute FPÖ refugees remain ! . " . Even with chants made ​​the demonstrators on their concerns carefully : " Say it loud and say it clear , refugees are welcome here" , it echoed to the ring road .
FPÖ prominence at LAP Ball The organizers of the demonstration called for in its initial speeches one end of the academic Balls in the Hofburg : " fraternity out of the Hofburg ," was a slogan . Heinz-Christian Strache and the FPÖ federal presidential candidate Norbert Hofer were also among the crowd . The grounds around the Hofburg has been banned to prevent a clash of ball visitors and protesters . Strache told on his arrival : "I do not understand if red and green organizations against political dissidents , in the case of the liberal party , so proceed and try a dance to avoid - and then has partially led to riots and violence ( . .. ) , as two years ago , then I have no understanding . " Each organizer has the right to organize a ball , " so we too ," stated Strache .