Special teams should ensure a calm atmosphere at Karlsplatz and the Danube Canal. At the “Krone” local inspection on Friday, however, they were nowhere to be seen.
Karlsplatz is already well attended this Friday at 9 p.m. Adolescents and young adults enjoy the pleasant temperatures, drink beer and wine, organize party games – civilized and peaceful. “The young people are very disciplined. I even come here in the evening with my children without hesitation, ”says a passer-by of the“ Krone ”.
It is hard to imagine that the situation here would escalate a week ago. At a round table initiated by Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) it was decided to have three so-called awareness teams with four employees each “patrol” on the Danube Canal and Karlsplatz at the weekend.
The starting shot was given on Friday at 7 p.m., but only with an (!) A-Team. Until four in the morning it should communicate with the party people at eye level in busy places in order to avoid de-escalation between youth and police. Most of those present are quite positive about the idea. “It’s good when social workers keep an eye on the situation,” says a young Viennese. External observers are important in order to be able to objectively clarify any de-escalation afterwards.
Fortunately, everything stayed peaceful on Friday because the special team could not be found. “We heard that they should be on their way. But we didn’t see them, ”describes a policeman on the Danube Canal. According to the city, all three teams will be on the road from next weekend – even with a clearly visible cargo bike.