Torn from the pole

Young people spat on Israeli flag in Vienna

Perpetrators struck again at the Campus of Religions.(Bild: zVg)

Torn down, spat on and kicked at: This is what two youths allegedly did to an Israel flag in Vienna's Donaustadt district early on Friday morning. The incident was witnessed by a man who then alerted the police. Unfortunately, this is not the first incident of this kind in Seestadt. 

This is the fourth time that unknown perpetrators have torn up a Jewish flag at the Campus of Religions. According to a witness, this time two unknown persons tore down the flag, which was hanging in the public square where flags of other denominations are also hoisted. They then allegedly spat on the flag and kicked it. 

Police investigate
"An investigation is underway on suspicion of serious damage to property and disparagement of religious teachings", Vienna police announced on Saturday. The State Office for State Protection and Counter-Extremism is also aware of the incident. 

Not the first case in Vienna
There have been several similar incidents in Vienna recently. The actions were mostly carried out by young people. It was only in October last year that an event in front of the Stadttempel caused a media stir.

Teenagers shouted inflammatory slogans
At the time, a video was published online showing a girl and other people shouting inflammatory slogans and tearing the Israeli flag, which was attached to the building of the Jewish Community, from its moorings.