In the Opera Ball toilet

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A lit cigarette in the men's toilet triggered the smoke alarm.(Bild: stock.adobe.com, Krone KREATIV)

A "Krone" report about a smoke alarm triggered by burning cigarettes in the men's toilet at the Opera Ball caused an uproar. Now rumors are growing that an active federal minister may have been the trigger.

Even exactly one week after the state violence, the Vienna Opera Ball is still the talk of the town in political circles. One background: on Tuesday evening, the "Krone " newspaper reported on a smoke alarm in the men's toilets, which is said to have been caused by cigarette smoke from high-ranking politicians. The State Opera confirmed the alarm, but did not reveal who was allegedly smoking illegally in the toilet.

"Fortunately nothing happened"
"The company fire department was on site immediately and fortunately nothing happened. We immediately advised the people to refrain from smoking," said the press office. The incident is believed to have taken place in the men's toilet near the politicians' boxes.

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (left) and his Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen (3rd from left) with companions at the Opera Ball(Bild: APA/Roland Schlager)

This may be one of the reasons why rumors are currently growing that one of the two smokers caught was ÖVP Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. When asked by the "Krone", his office would neither confirm nor deny this ...