Accordingly, in the APA interview he is thinking about “creating new ways to remove them from circulation”. A kind of measure, i.e. deprivation of liberty after serving a prison sentence, could be “one possibility” for the Interior Minister.
Karner argues that the radicalization of some potential attackers in prisons has not decreased, but in some cases has even increased. Of course, even after their release, dangerous individuals are still under surveillance by state security. But the goal must be to reduce the number of them. The most suitable measures to achieve this must now be worked out. One starting point could be the question of what type of mobile phone communication the relevant group of people is allowed to have.
Karner does not say how many threats are currently on the radar: “I will not speculate on individual numbers.” However, Islamist extremism has increased significantly after Hamas’ attack on Israel and the events that followed, and the danger has increased accordingly: “In the area of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, it is the area that represents the highest risk.”
“There will be joyful celebrations in the future too”
Nevertheless, even after the prevented attack on a Taylor Swift concert, Karner is convinced that large events can still be held in Austria: “There will continue to be big, beautiful, peaceful, joyful festivals and events in the future. I am 100 percent convinced of that.”
The Interior Minister sees the fact that the attack was prevented as a success for the security authorities. He is all the more outraged that one of his predecessors, FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, did not find words of thanks for the emergency services: “Kickl has once again shown his true face, a face of hatred and contempt.” The FPÖ leader is not prepared for a second to thank the police for ensuring people’s safety: “For him, only Herbert counts.”
The FPÖ immediately rejected this: “For Herbert Kickl, the Austrian population is the first thing that counts, not illegal immigrants from all over the world,” countered FPÖ security spokesman Hannes Amesbauer in a press release, referring to the number of asylum applications. “Gang wars, daily stabbings and excesses of violence, sexual assaults, Islamist terrorism – these are the obvious consequences of the ÖVP’s insubstantial PR policy. Even the completely far-fetched verbal attacks on Herbert Kickl do not disguise this.” Karner’s statements were merely “pitchy sayings” and “empty phrases.”
The ÖVP is still at odds with its Green coalition partner on the “knife carrying ban law”. Karner cannot understand the Greens’ objections that his proposal provides for too many exceptions, nor their new proposals such as a higher age limit for purchasing knives or an alcohol limit for carrying stabbing weapons. His proposal is a proposal developed by the police on the basis of practical experience and is feasible. At present, stabbing weapons can be confiscated in prohibited zones such as Vienna’s Reumannplatz, but not a few streets away. The aim is therefore to roll out the regulation across Austria in order to enable easier and faster intervention in dangerous scenarios. A ban on snack knives or on customs is not planned.
“Smugglers avoid Austria”
In terms of asylum policy, Karner insists that people smugglers avoid Austria, otherwise the numbers of illegal migration would not have fallen by 65 percent, and in Burgenland by as much as 97 percent, contrary to the European trend. But the Interior Minister wants to take steps at the European level to prevent de facto every Afghan or Syrian from receiving protection status.
In the case of Syria, the region around Damascus and possibly a second area could be defined as safe. This would put an end to the automatic process whereby almost every Syrian is granted subsidiary protection or asylum. In the case of Afghanistan, intensive talks are underway to at least bring refugees back to the region. This is contradicted by the EU rule that there must be a connection to the country to which they are being deported. Karner is therefore pushing for this “connection criterion” to be removed.
The Interior Minister has nothing new to offer Romania and Bulgaria, who are still waiting for full Schengen membership. Passport-free entry via air routes was only made possible in May. He does not think it is a good idea to think about the next step at this point.
It would be natural for Karner to accept a mandate as a member of parliament after the National Council election, as he is running on the Lower Austrian state list. However, he would also be “happy” to continue to perform the function of Interior Minister.
