Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz: I was attacked during a public consultation session!

On 24 September 2025, Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz held a consultation day in Salzburg, at Mirabell Palace. The three Ombudspersons hold regular consultation days throughout Austria. The dates are listed on the Austrian Ombudsman Board's website. Attendance is only possible if you register in advance. During the consultation session, a man from Tyrol turned up unannounced. Whilst the Ombudsperson was still greeting him, he verbally abused her and lunged at her with his fists raised. The Ombudsperson managed to flee the room and call for help. The police arrived swiftly and took the man away a few minutes later. It later transpired that the case the man had wished to raise was already known to the Austrian Ombudsman Board. He had already been informed that the Austrian Ombudsman Board did not have jurisdiction over the matter. In November 2025, the man was sentenced to a three-month prison term, suspended for a probationary period of three years, for the offence of making a dangerous threat (Section 107(1) of the Criminal Code).

Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz is using this incident as an opportunity to call on public authorities to rethink their security systems: “Being attacked suddenly, out of the blue, in a government building was a deeply unsettling experience for me. It could happen to anyone. That is why I am calling on all public authorities to rethink their access and security systems. Above all, for the sake of their staff.”

“I travel around Austria a great deal. Whether it’s the town hall, the district administration office or any other public authority – you can simply walk straight into most government buildings. Without having to register or go through a security checkpoint. In times of increased propensity for violence and rising aggression, this can end badly. That is why I would like to draw attention to the potential danger and raise awareness of this issue within the public administration. It is not about isolation, but about the safety of everyone who works in a government office or is there to carry out official business.”