Number of race-related incidents rises in Austria

The number of racist attacks against particular population groups in Austria increased in 2014, anti-racism platform ZARA said in its latest report Friday.

The Austrian anti-racism group said that 794 race-related incidents were reported last year, about 60 more than in 2013.

Some 20 percent of these cases were related to racist remarks or attacks in public places, 19 percent in economic life such as during the provision of goods and services, 17 percent on the internet, 8 percent in the politics and media, and 7 percent from the police.

Muslims were particularly targeted by such racist attacks, and a spike in the number of incidents was drastically notable after August, which indicates the intense media coverage of IS atrocities could play a role, according to ZARA.

The report added that the actual overall figure could be much higher as many cases went unreported.

It also suggested the Austrian political system target the entire extremist spectrum of the country with appropriate measures. Endi