Vienna Terror Attacks Shocking update: Austria Ministry Says Gunman Tried to Join Islamic State in Syria
At least five people were killed – including an assailant – and 15 others were injured after multiple gunmen opened fire across central Vienna Monday, AP quoted Austria’s top security officials as saying.
Seventeen other people were wounded - some seriously - after gunmen opened fire at six different locations in the city centre on Monday evening. Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said that initial investigations indicate the suspect who was killed had links with the Islamic State.
One attacker was shot dead by police, officials said.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer described the assailant killed by police as an "Islamist terrorist".
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz reinforced the point later saying it was clearly an attack driven by "hatred of our way of life, our democracy".
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the dastardly terror attacks and asserted that India stands with Austria during this tragic time. “Deeply shocked and saddened by the dastardly terror attacks in Vienna,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted. “India stands with Austria during this tragic time. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he added.
One of the women was reportedly a waitress. The second woman died of her wounds in hospital overnight, reports said. Two of those who died in the shooting were women and two were men.
The victims were in a city centre area busy with people in bars and restaurants, near Vienna's central synagogue, but it is not yet clear if that was the target.
Mr Nehammer advised people to stay away from the centre, as police cordoned off some streets and brought in reinforcements. Parents were told to keep their children home on Tuesday if they could.
Seven of the wounded have life-threatening injuries, Austrian media report.
Addressing a news conference, Mr Nehammer described the heavily armed gunman killed by police as an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser. His home had been searched and video material seized, the minister said. He had been wearing a fake explosive belt, police tweeted.
The shooting began shortly after 8 pm GMT Monday near Vienna main synagogue a day before the start of a month-long coronavirus lockdown. Jewish community leader Oskar Deutsch said on Twitter it was not clear whether the Vienna synagogue and adjoining offices had been the target and said they were closed at the time.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has experienced three Islamist attacks in recent weeks, said, “This is our Europe. Our enemies must know with whom they are dealing. We will not retreat.” US President Donald Trump tweeted, “Our prayers are with the people of Vienna after yet another vile act of terrorism in Europe.”
Several arrests were made during searches of 15 nearby homes. Two suspects were also arrested in St Pölten, a town to the west of Vienna.
The Vienna shooting comes after a spate of Islamist attacks in France.
Vienna gunman tried to join Islamic State in Syria, says Austrian ministry
The gunman shot dead in the Vienna attacks on Monday served a prison term for attempting to travel to Syria and join Islamic State, the Austrian government said on Tuesday. The interior ministry in Vienna confirmed a report by APA news agency saying the man had been sentenced to 22 months in prison in April 2019.
In December 2019, he had was released early due to his young age, according to the report, which cited Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer. The 20-year-old was shot dead by police near St Ruprecht's Church in Vienna, the report said.
What is known about the dead gunner?
He was 20, originally from North Macedonia and had a previous conviction for terrorist association, Mr Nehammer told Austria's APA news agency. He had both Austrian and North Macedonian citizenship.
Earlier, the minister said at least one "heavily armed and dangerous" attacker was believed to be still at large. Officials were quoted as saying there could have been as many as four attackers.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called it a "repulsive terror attack". The government called it "an attack on freedom and democracy".
The attack came hours before Austria imposed new national restrictions to try to stem rising cases of coronavirus. Many people were enjoying drinks and eating out before a midnight curfew.
Police named six crime scenes in central Vienna: Seitenstettengasse and nearby Morzinplatz, Salzgries, Fleischmarkt, Bauernmarkt and Graben. The suspect was shot dead near St Rupert's Church.
The government has announced three days of national mourning, starting immediately, with flags to fly at half-mast and a minute's silence at midday. Schools will also have a minute's silence for the victims on Wednesday morning.
European leaders strongly condemned the shooting. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "deeply shocked by the terrible attacks".
How did the attack happen?
Police say the incident began around 20:00 (19:00 GMT) near the Sittenstattengasse Synagogue, when a heavily armed man opened fire on people outside the cafe and restaurant.
Members of the special forces quickly arrived at the scene. A policeman was shot and seriously wounded in front of the offender, who was armed with an automatic rifle, a pistol and a matchbox, in key words, "neutralized" at 20:09.
Jewish community leader Oskar Deutsch said that the synagogue was closed at the time the attack began.
Footage posted on social media showed scenes of chaos as people ran through the streets with gunshots ringing out in the background.
Witness Chris Zhao was in a nearby restaurant when the shooting started.
He told the news: "We heard noises that sounded like firecrackers. We heard about 20 to 30 and we thought that to be actually gunfire. We saw the ambulances... lining up. There were victims. Sadly, we also saw a body lying down the street next to us."
A major anti-terrorist operation swept into action and police erected barriers around the city center.
Police from the neighboring Czech Republic said the gunmen were randomly checking along the border with Austria in the event that the gunmen fled in that direction.
In a post on Twitter, the Austrian chancellor said "we are experiencing difficult hours in our republic".
"Our police will act decisively against the perpetrators of this hideous terrorist attack. We will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism," he said. He was due to speak publicly after a cabinet video conference on Tuesday morning.
Austria had until now been spared the sort of attacks that have hit other European countries.Leaders across the region were quick to condemn the shooting, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that Europe must not "give up" in the face of attacks."We, the French people, share the shock and grief of the Austrian people, struck this evening by an attack in the heart of their capital, Vienna. This is our Europe. Our enemies must know who they are dealing with," he said.
