According to Vienna police officials, both left-wing Antifa groups and right-wing Identitarian groups are calling on supporters in Austria and around Europe to rally and demonstrate in the 1St District on Saturday, July 20th. Demonstrators will start to gather in the late morning/early afternoon and will commence marching at 3:00 PM. Affected protest and staging areas include Neuer Markt, Am Hof, Freyung, Albertina-Helmut Zilk Platz, and Morzinplatz in the 1st District. The possibility of confrontation and physical altercations between these groups and with police does exist. As such, there will be a large police presence in the 1st District. Traffic delays, disruptions and road closures are expected. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid the affected areas if possible and not engage with demonstrators.
Actions to take:
--Avoid the area of demonstrations.
--Be aware of your surroundings. If you see something that seems odd or out of place, immediately notify the nearest law enforcement officer and move away from the area.
--Always carry your cellphone, programmed with local emergency numbers; Austrian Police (133), Ambulance (144), Fire (122), Europe-wide emergency (112).
--Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests.
--Follow the instructions of authorities and road signs regarding closures and detours.
--Monitor local media for updates.
--Keep a low profile.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Vienna – Consular Section
Parkring 12A (Marriott Hotel Building), Vienna, 1190, Austria
U.S. Citizens emergencies ONLY: +43-1-31-3390
E-mail: ConsulateVienna@state.gov
Embassy website: AT.usembassy.gov
Department of State – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
Austria Country Information: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Austria.html
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates at https://step.state.gov/.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@USEmbVienna)
