In November 2020, 50 members of the Turkish ultranationalist Islamic Grey Wolves stormed a Catholic church in Vienna banging on pews and running riot through the building.
The story was played down by police, but it highlighted a growing undercurrent of hostility towards Christians there.
Police have now been forced to acknowledge an even greater threat, with an immediate risk to Islamic terror against churches in the city.
The wrote:
There is a nonspecific threat of an assault against churches. As a precautionary measure ... points of interest have been put under increased guard by regular and special operation police forces.
If there is a concrete danger for the population at a concrete location, Vienna police will warn immediately via all available channels.
Police officers are equipped with bulletproof helmets and vests and assault rifles. They will carry out surveillance activities and also carry out checks in road traffic.
In recent years, the European mainland has seen arson attacks, beheadings and stabbings committed against Catholics, sometimes while at Mass.
