Three Russian diplomats expelled from Austria over spying accusations

Austria has expelled three Russian diplomats, accusing them of spying.The diplomats, who have already left the country, used a "forest of antennas" installed on the roofs of diplomatic buildings to gather information, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said. A report by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), confirmed by the foreign ministry, said the antennas were on the roof of the Russian embassy in Vienna and at a Russian diplomatic compound."We regard this latest unfriendly move by the Austrian authorities as entirely unjustified, purely politically motivated and categorically unacceptable," the Russian embassy said in a statement. "Moscow will undoubtedly respond harshly to these completely ill-considered actions on the part of the Austrian side."According to ORF, antennas have long been a thorn in the side of the Austrian intelligence services because they have allowed Russia to intercept data sent via satellite internet by organisations, including international ones."Espionage is a security issue for Austria," Meinl-Reisinger said in a statement sent to the BBC. "We have brought about a change of course in this government and are taking decisive action against it. We have made this clear to the Russian side, particularly with regard to the forest of antennas at the Russian embassy."