Vienna: The Austrian government Tuesday announced it would spend up to 290 million euros (about $335 million) in the fight against terrorism over the next four years.
The details provided by Chancellor Werner Faymann and Vice Chancellor Reinhold Mitterlehner at a presentation in Vienna showed the largest proportion of the offensive, $146 million, would go toward personnel, including the additional training of specialists for cyber security, crime fighting, and forensic science, Xinhua reported.
Technology would also receive a massive upgrade, with $40 million spent on IT including an upgrade of the Schengen Information System governmental database and the preservation of evidence.
Other major areas of funding would be for field and protective equipment ($33.5 million), IT security including increased mobility ($29 million), infrastructure ($18.5 million), and communications ($15 million).
Faymann said he was pleased about the “rapid, decisive, and cooperative demeanour” of the coalition government.
Mittelehner said the security package was a consequence of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and as a buffer against stronger forms of radicalisation.
He added that it was only a part of government measures, which also include the banning of terrorist symbols and a stricter laws.