Overview[]
The Austrian Federal Agency for State Protection and Counterterrorism (BVT) (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung) was established on December 1, 2002. It is part of the General Directorate for Public Security of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The BVT is the intelligence service of the Austrian law enforcement system. The BVTs main responsibilities consist of protecting Austria's constitutional institutions and their capacity to act, combating extremist and terrorist phenomena, illegal traffic in arms, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and organised crime operating in these areas, as well as counter-espionage. The BVT is also responsible for protecting property and VIPs, including the representatives of foreign states and international organisations, assuring information security and performing security checks.