Austria: anti-Semitism up, right-wing extremism down

The Austrian home secret service has found no serious danger from right-wing extremists to democracy and security in the country. In its annual report published on Thursday in Vienna, it is noted that the number of criminal offences connected with right-wing extremism had gone down compared to figures for the previous year. Incidents had declined from 299 in 2003 to 229 last year. However, at the same time, there had been a near doubling of offences motivated by anti-Semitism, from nine to 17. The report said that a major goal was to prevent "events with a right-wing extremist tendency, particularly skinhead concerts". The skinhead scene was a threat "not to be underestimated". The report also said that radical activities of left-wing extremists in Austria had been falling as "moderate groups" were taking the lead against the Iraq war. Leftist radical groups were currently unable to mobilize people.