A vigil and makeshift memorial in Vienna honored the two murder victims.
Christian Ebner, chairman of the Austrian Freisinnige (Freelance) party, reported that Antifa activists defaced a memorial in Vienna dedicated to Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, and Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee.
The impromptu memorial was erected outside the US Embassy in Vienna following the murders, both of which have caused significant division in the US.
During Friday’s vigil, attendees placed photos, flowers, US flags, and letters at the embassy wall and lit candles in remembrance of Zarutska and Kirk.
Ebner stated that, as of Sunday, the memorial had been vandalized and torn down by Antifa activists.
“THEIR LIVES MATTERED”
Tributes to Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirk, outside Embassy of the United States of America in Vienna, Austria.
🇦🇹🇺🇸💜🖤
— Себастиан Бакстър (Sebastian Baxter) (@SebBax7799)
“Antifa vandalized it; these inhumane left-wing extremists don’t even respect a memorial service,” he posted on X on Sunday.
© RT
Social media footage shows demonstrators dressed in black chanting slogans while confronting vigil participants on Friday.
Austrian Antifa protesting the Charlie Kirk & Iryna vigil in Vienna.
Different city, same scum.— Martin Sellner (@Martin_Sellner)
According to Austrian influencer Alexander Ehrlich, who attended the vigil, the group disrupted a moment of silence for the victims by shouting slogans.
🇦🇹 Antifa disturbs Charlie Kirk commemoration
Vienna (Austria), 12.09.2025: the minute of silence for Iryna Zarutska and Charlie Kirk at the US-embassy was disturbed by so-called “Antifa”, shouting their slogans into the moment of commemoration and prayer.
Wien, 12.09.2025: die…
— Alexander Ehrlich (@ehrlichetweets)
Zarutska, 23, was murdered last month on a North Carolina train by Decarlos Brown Jr. The local transit authority released a video of the unprovoked stabbing which quickly spread online.
Kirk was fatally shot during a public appearance at a Utah university on Wednesday.
The killings have ignited discussions about media bias, public safety, and the increasing political divide, with conservatives claiming liberal media outlets neglected Zarutska’s death until it gained traction on social media.
President Trump has denounced the murders and pledged to target those he accuses of funding and promoting “radical left” political violence. He also stated his support for the death penalty for both perpetrators.
“`