Activists occupied the empty Wilhelminian style building on Vienna’s Rathausplatz on Monday – according to their own statements, to draw attention to the situation on the housing market and the vacancy rate. Around 50 people had gathered in the building and unrolled banners. In the evening, the police got in and began to evacuate the house. Shortly after 8 p.m., the first squatters were carried out by police officers.
One exerts “criticism of the real estate speculation and the vacancy in Vienna, which suggests a lack of housing and thereby artificially drives rental prices up,” it said on the part of the activists. Urgently needed living space for people who do not have a home will be denied.
However, the words “Refugees welcome” were also found on unrolled posters, so not only was attention drawn to the housing situation, but there were also protests against the asylum policy. The “bleiberechtfüralle” initiative argues that refugees who were looking for a safe home would be inhumanly deported from Austria to war and crisis areas, even though space would be available in the middle of Vienna.
Activists had also gathered on the building’s balcony. Again and again there was dancing – the currently applicable rules, distance and mask requirements, were observed. People also gathered on the street in front of the building. This has since been blocked.
The police confirmed the APA that it was deployed. By the late afternoon several police vehicles were already in front of the building. First of all, it was necessary to clarify whether it was actually an occupation according to the Security Police Act, as police spokesman Barbara Gass explained. In addition, an attempt was made to reach the homeowner.
In the early evening, the initiative said via Twitter that the squatters would be peaceful in clearing the house and would not offer any resistance. At around 7.30 p.m., the executive gained access to the building. Shortly after 8 p.m. the first squatters were carried out by the executive.