FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2011, leader of the Austrian right-wing Freedom Party, FPOE, Heinz-Christian Strache delivers a speech during a parliament session in Vienna, Austria. (AP Photo/dapd, Hans Punz, File)

VIENNA (AP) — The head of Austria's far-right party is being cited as comparing recent protests against a fancy ball that attracts extremists to the Nazis' persecution of Jews.

Vienna's Jewish community is demanding an investigation into comments by Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache and other political parties have condemned his remarks. The far-right party insists, however, no harm was meant.

Police recorded only isolated anti-ball violence last Friday but Strache was quoted as saying the turmoil was "like Kristallnacht." He was referring to the 1938 anti-Semitic riots across Germany and parts of Austria that left streets strewn with broken glass from the windows of Jewish-owned property and synagogues.

Strache also told other ball guests on Friday "we are the new Jews."

Associated Press
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