By Timo Kirez
GENEVA (AA) – Right-wing extremist crimes in Austria jumped by more than 40% in the first half of 2025, reaching a new record level, according to Interior Ministry data released Thursday.
In response to a parliamentary inquiry by Social Democratic lawmaker Sabine Schatz, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said 787 crimes with a right-wing extremist background were registered in the first six months of this year. That represents a 41.5% increase compared with 556 cases in the same period in 2024, which had already marked a record high.
The ministry said 91% of perpetrators were men. Among the offenses, 21 were classified as anti-Semitic and 11 as Islamophobic.
Vienna topped the list with 236 cases, followed by Upper Austria with 171 and Lower Austria with 103. About 27% of all right-wing extremist crimes occurred online, according to the ministry’s response.
“The current figures once again underscore the worrying trend of recent years. We have a problem with a massive rise in right-wing extremism, both online and on the streets. It is particularly worrying that young people are increasingly becoming the target of right-wing extremist agitation,” Schatz said in a press release.
"To counteract this development, a comprehensive package of measures is needed, including prevention programs in schools and youth facilities, increased support for victims, strategies to combat online hate, and an exit program", the politician continued.
Schatz added that a national action plan promised in the government’s coalition agreement is “being worked on intensively.”
Austria has been governed by a three-party coalition of the conservative People’s Party (OVP), the Social Democrats (SPO) and the liberal Neos since March 2025. The far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won the largest share of votes in the September 2024 elections with 28.8%, remains outside the coalition.