Three people died while 15 injured in the attack
On Monday evening, multiple assailants with automatic weapons opened fire at six locations in Vienna, Austria. The attack took place just hours before Austria imposed new national restrictions to try to stem rising cases of corona-virus. Several people were out enjoying bars and restaurants which are now closed until the end of November.
The attack happened at around 8pm when a heavily armed man opened fire on people outside cafes and restaurants near the Seitenstettengasse synagogue. While one of the assailants was shot dead by the police, more than one attacker could be on the loose, according to the Austria’s Interior Ministry. The suspect who has been shot is identified as an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group sympathizer. A manhunt has begun in search of gunmen.
“An attack on our values and a completely useless attempt to weaken our democratic society or to divide it,” Karl Nehammer, Interior Minister of Austria said on the shooting. “We experienced an attack yesterday from at least one Islamist terrorist- a situation like we have not had to experience in Austria in decade,” he added. Nehammer appealed to public to avoid visting public places as per the safety reasons while schools will also remain closed.
“We have brought several special forces units together that are now searching for the presumed terrorists. I am therefore not limiting it to an area of Vienna because there are mobile perpetrators,” said Nehammer.
“More than 20,000 videos were sent to the police platform. Thank you to the people in Austria who gave us this evidence,” said Frank Ruf, a general director for public safety with the Vienna police. A 35 member investigation team is working on thousands of videos that were sent by public, from which 20% of the videos were examined so far.
Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi conveyed his condolences on Tuesday tweeting, “Deeply shocked and saddened by the dastardly terror attacks in Vienna. India stands with Austria during this tragic time. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
French president Emmanuel Macron said over the terror attacks in Vienna, “shared the shock and grief of the Austrian people...This is Europe. Our enemies must know who they are dealing with. We will never give up.”
The UK prime minister also said the country’s “thoughts are with the people of Austria- we stand united with you against terror”, UK’s home secretary Priti Patel also said on the matter, ”we stand ready to support in any way we can.”
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