03:27Austria: President Van der Bellen visits vandalised Holocaust exhibition
Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen visited a vandalised portrait exhibition of Holocaust survivors in Vienna on Tuesday. More than a dozen pictures were damaged in three attacks since the opening on May, 7. Van der Bellen laid flowers at the foot of some of the portraits.
"What is good is that young and middle aged people have come together to keep guard, among them the Muslim youth, the young Caritas members, artistic organisations, who give a signal for solidarity in our society saying 'we are not like that'. And I find it beautiful - this image of the Austrian togetherness that goes beyond those acts of vandalism," said Van der Bellen.
During the attacks, the faces were slashed and several has swastikas painted on them. On Monday, activists from various backgrounds came to show support and restore the photos. Some activists even set up tents near the exhibition to prevent further attacks.
"This is, of course, huge. These feelings and this solidarity that we showed. Then people came spontaneously, set up their tents here and just stayed. It is a very strong message," said Luigi Toscano, the author of the exhibition.
Around 80 portraits of Holocaust survivors on display on central Vienna streets as part of the exhibition called "Lest We Forget'.
03:27Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen visited a vandalised portrait exhibition of Holocaust survivors in Vienna on Tuesday. More than a dozen pictures were damaged in three attacks since the opening on May, 7. Van der Bellen laid flowers at the foot of some of the portraits.
"What is good is that young and middle aged people have come together to keep guard, among them the Muslim youth, the young Caritas members, artistic organisations, who give a signal for solidarity in our society saying 'we are not like that'. And I find it beautiful - this image of the Austrian togetherness that goes beyond those acts of vandalism," said Van der Bellen.
During the attacks, the faces were slashed and several has swastikas painted on them. On Monday, activists from various backgrounds came to show support and restore the photos. Some activists even set up tents near the exhibition to prevent further attacks.
"This is, of course, huge. These feelings and this solidarity that we showed. Then people came spontaneously, set up their tents here and just stayed. It is a very strong message," said Luigi Toscano, the author of the exhibition.
Around 80 portraits of Holocaust survivors on display on central Vienna streets as part of the exhibition called "Lest We Forget'.