Swimming lessons for refugee children have whipped up a storm in Austria, with a lifeguard’s car window smashed and a newspaper on Friday filing charges against a woman who said the migrants should drown.

Local newspapers reported this week that the southern state of Carinthia was offering the courses free of charge for unaccompanied minors in order to prevent accidents in lakes and swimming pools this summer.

This provoked a torrent of what local politician called Heinz Kernjak called “ignorant and offensive” online comments, while an unknown assailant smashed the window of a van belonging to lifeguards in the town of Wolfsberg.

When national daily Kurier reported the story on Thursday, it provoked complaints — alongside messages of support — about the costs of the lessons to the taxpayer and how the courses would only encourage more immigration.