Austria’s far-Right interior ministry has been plunged into new contoversy over plans to ban “extremist” symbols including salutes used by Islamic extremists and Turkish and Kurdish nationalists.

But the proposals have been ridiculed after it emerged that some of the hand signals could easily be confused with common gestures including the peace sign and Churchill’s “V for victory” salute.

It is not an Austrian attempt to sabotage Churchill’s legacy, and nor are tourists going to be arrested for making the gesture while taking selfies in Vienna.

The proposed ban is part of a new crackdown on extremist groups by the interior ministry, which is controlled by the far-Right Freedom Party (FPÖ), the junior partner in Austria’s coalition government.

The Hitler salute and other Nazi symbols are already forbidden in Austria, and Herbert Kickl, the interior minister, wants to extend the ban to other extremist groups.