7-Day Major Operation
Maximum Security: Even the FBI Is Protecting the ESC
When the Song Contest week kicks off this coming Sunday, a seven-day major operation will also begin for the Vienna Police. Several hundred officers will be on duty every day. There is even support from the FBI.
For the third time, the Eurovision Song Contest—the world’s largest live music show—will be held in Vienna starting next week. But never before has the security situation been as tense as it is now. The geopolitical situation in the Middle East is posing enormous challenges for everyone this time: the city, the organizers, and above all the security authorities. Restricted access zones are being prepared and will likely be in effect at least on the days of the event. Law enforcement expects protests mainly from pro-Palestinian activists, said Provincial Deputy Police President Dieter Csefan at a press conference on Tuesday.
A few gatherings—the number is currently in the single digits—have already been registered. However, this could still change significantly, as the deadline for registering a demonstration or rally is always 48 hours in advance.
Security to meet airport standards
One challenge was—and remains—ensuring a high level of security. This is intended to reach the standard of an international airport, particularly in and around the Stadthalle. To achieve this, among other things, approximately 16,000 people who are “in any way connected to the Song Contest” must undergo security screening, said Csefan.
This included and continues to include private security personnel, who are responsible, among other things, for visitor admission checks. “We receive an alert regarding a specific individual and forward it to the organizer. The organizer must then decide whether to continue employing that person or not,” explained Csefan. There have already been several such alerts.
Such alerts can arise, for example, due to prior criminal convictions, but also due to political activities, which are reviewed by the Directorate for State Security/Intelligence Services. If the alerts are sufficiently concrete, “we naturally insist that the person in question not remain employed in the ESC environment,” said the Deputy State Police President.
FBI Established Its Own Task Force
Support for enhanced security is also coming from the U.S. For instance, the FBI established its own task force in New York City to assist Austrian police colleagues during ESC week, particularly regarding potential cyberattacks.
After all, it was the American authorities who, in 2024, provided the crucial tip regarding Beran A. and the foiled terrorist attack on the Taylor Swift concert. More than 16,000 people associated with the ESC were subjected to “security checks” by the Austrian police. This included privately hired security personnel as well as the author of this article. At the same time, several demonstrations have already been registered in protest of Israel’s participation.
Meanwhile, the terror alert level remains at the second-highest level. “There is a latent risk of attacks, but no concrete evidence,” said Csefan.
“Geozone” around main event venues
Another important point is that a so-called “geozone”—a 1.5-kilometer radius around the three main venues (Stadthalle, Rathausplatz, and Prater)—has been established. Within this zone, there is a complete flight ban, including for mini-drones weighing less than 250 grams. “Flying a drone around there is not a good idea,” said Xenia Zauner, police operations commander for the ESC.
“This coming Sunday will be particularly challenging,” according to Operations Commander Xenia Zauner. On the opening day of the ESC, the Vienna Derby (Austria vs. Rapid) and the Wings for Life Run will also take place.
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