Starting August 1, a new regulation will take effect establishing a weapons ban zone at Yppenplatz in Vienna’s Ottakring district. Until now, such regulations have been in place at Praterstern in Leopoldstadt as well as Reumannplatz and Keplerplatz in Favoriten. The aim, according to police, is to “significantly improve the sense of safety and protection for the public—especially minors—through targeted public safety prevention.”
Effective August 1 at midnight, the Vienna Police Department will implement both a weapons ban zone under Section 36b of the Security Police Act and a protection zone under Section 36a of the same law. The protection zone will apply to the local children’s playground and park area, along with a 150-meter radius around it. “This measure serves to protect minors from specific criminal acts. Individuals for whom there are concrete indications of potential offenses can be removed from the zone by public safety authorities,” police said in a statement on Wednesday. The regulation will be in effect daily from midnight to 11:59 p.m., provisionally until February 1, 2026, unless it is lifted earlier or extended.
The weapons ban prohibits entering the area with weapons or dangerous items, unless there is a legitimate and lawful reason—such as a professional obligation. Exemptions apply to individuals with a weapons permit and those carrying pepper spray for self-defense. This zone will be enforced daily from midnight to 11:59 p.m. through November 1, 2025.
Ludwig: “No Tolerance for Violence”
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig (Social Democratic Party) emphasized in the statement that following Vienna’s rules for public behavior is central to harmonious coexistence. “Vienna’s strong cooperation with the city police is one reason why it remains one of the safest major cities in the world. However, where necessary, stricter measures must be taken,” said Ludwig. “There is no tolerance for violence in Vienna.” He once again called for a nationwide weapons ban.
Vienna Police Chief Gerhard Pürstl added: “Weapons ban and protection zones are targeted crime prevention tools aimed at stopping acts of violence before they happen. We aim to strengthen both the public’s sense of security and the actual safety situation.” District Chairwoman Stefanie Lamp emphasized: “Yppenplatz is a place where people come together to spend time—this space must be safe and freely accessible to everyone.” She called the new protection and weapons ban zone “an important step that will lead to significant improvements through consistent enforcement by the police.”
Yppenplatz and the neighboring Brunnenmarkt—with their many cafes and eateries—are considered among Vienna’s most diverse neighborhoods.
The district administration also highlighted earlier initiatives, including improved lighting and the introduction of neighborhood dialogues (“Grätzlgespräche”). Still, they stressed that such zones can only be effective if enough personnel are available to enforce them. “For years, the Ottakring and Hernals district police departments have lacked over 100 officers who are urgently needed,” the statement read.
Political Reactions
NEOS Vienna security spokesperson Lukas Burian called the weapons ban “a targeted and proportionate measure for more safety in Ottakring,” describing it as a reaction to the security situation in Vienna’s districts and neighborhoods. “After a shooting and several knife attacks at Yppenplatz in 2024, this is a sensible measure,” he said in a statement.
The chairman of the Vienna People’s Party Ottakring branch, Stefan Trittner, welcomed the development: “I’m glad that the Vienna People’s Party Ottakring’s demand is finally being fulfilled. The weapons ban zone is urgently needed, as local violent crime has become unbearable.” He noted a rise in drug-related violence, adding: “There was a shooting, and there are constant knife attacks and brawls.”
For Michael Oberlechner, district party chairman of the FPÖ Ottakring and Member of Parliament, the zone is “nothing more than a token measure that completely misses the actual problems.” He pointed to existing weapons ban zones at Praterstern and Reumannplatz, “where knife attacks, violent incidents, and gang crime still occur on a daily basis.”
