Armed with rifles they terrorize the night of Vienna … and two dead

In an unprecedented attack on the Austrian capital lately, gunmen spread terror on the streets of Vienna on Monday night, firing their machine guns at six different locations in the center of the capital, in a “terrorist attack. “which resulted in at least two deaths and 14 injuries, including six in one case. Critical.

Although one of the attackers was shot to death by the police during the attack, the search for at least one of his accomplices continues.

In the context, the Austrian police said on their Twitter account: “There were shootings in six places, one person was killed and many others were injured”, noting that “the police shot a suspect and killed him.”

Armed with rifles

He also added that the attack, which occurred at 8pm (9pm GMT), involved many suspects, armed with rifles.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Austrian public television “ORF” quoted the mayor of the capital, Michael Ludwig, as saying that the death toll had risen to two after the death of a woman affected by her injuries.

While local media emphasized that the attack took place near a large synagogue in the center of the capital, the head of the Israeli community in Vienna, Oskar Deutsch, wrote on Twitter: “Until now, it is not possible to determine whether the target was it the synagogue or not. “

From Vienna (Reuters)

Neither party immediately claimed the attack and authorities did not reveal any details about the identity of the attackers or their possible motives.

It is noteworthy that the shootings occurred at dawn yesterday, hours before the entry of the general confinement measures related to Covid-19 that Austria was forced to reimpose in an attempt to control the second epidemic wave that crosses the country.

Fifty shots

Interior Minister Karl Niehamer said the attack was carried out by several armed men and that “at least one of them is still at large.”

The minister made his statement during a joint press conference with the director general of Public Security, Franz Rove, who said for his part that it had been decided to “strengthen inspection measures at the borders” and establish checkpoints in the capital.

A witness said, in response to a question from a television channel, that he saw “a person running with a machine gun and shooting brutally”, and then the police arrived on the scene and shot him. Another witness stated that “at least fifty bullets” were fired during the attack.

From Vienna (Reuters)

Significant security reinforcements

On the other hand, the police, whose members were injured in the attack, deployed large reinforcements at the scene of the attack, which is not far from the opera house, and their members ensured protection for a meeting of people leaving the theater of the opera, where they were viewing the latest work of art before the general closure measures went into effect. Implementation.

From Vienna (Reuters)

Schools closed

While the center of Vienna seemed completely deserted after the attack, the interior minister urged residents of the capital to be careful and stay home.

Authorities deployed army personnel to support security forces in guarding the capital’s main buildings and decided to close schools on Tuesday.

Disgusting attack … and international condemnation.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz denounced the “disgusting terrorist attack” and tweeted: “We are going through difficult times in our republic,” noting that “our police will firmly deal with the perpetrators of this disgusting terrorist attack. No we will give in to terrorism and fight this attack with all we can. ” Of strength. “

In turn, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, declared that the European Union “strongly condemns the appalling attack” in Vienna, calling it a “cowardly act”. “Europe strongly condemns this cowardly act that violates life and our human values. I sympathize with the victims and the people of Vienna after the horrible attack tonight. We support Vienna,” he said in a tweet on Twitter.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, Josep Borrell, also expressed his “shock and shock” by these “attacks”, and described the attack as “a cowardly, violent and malicious act. I sympathize with the victims and their families and with the people of Vienna. We are with you. “

For his part, the president of the Italian European Parliament, David Sassoli, said in a tweet on Twitter that “in all parts of our continent, we are united against violence and hatred.”

In Madrid, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, confirmed in a tweet that “he is following the news from Vienna on a painful night in the face of a new absurd attack”, adding: “Hatred will not yield to our societies. Europe will remain Stand up against terrorism. We sympathize with the families of the victims and stand in solidarity with the Austrian people. ” .

In turn, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter: “I am deeply shocked by the terrible attacks that took place in Vienna tonight. The ideas of the UK go to the Austrian people. We stand united with you against terrorism.” .

In Athens, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted: “I was shocked by the horrible attacks in Vienna. I expressed our full solidarity with Sebastian Kurtz. We extend our condolences to the people of Vienna and to the authorities responsible for handling the case. Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones. Europe stands united in the face of terrorism. “

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also tweeted: “I was deeply shocked by the horrible terrorist attacks” in Vienna, noting that he had called his Austrian counterpart “to convey our thoughts, condolences and support to the Austrian people.”

Low crime level

It is noteworthy that this new attack, which occurred this time in a European capital famous for its low level of crime, comes in a very tense climate that Europe has witnessed for two weeks.

On October 16, a young Chechen extremist beheaded French teacher Samuel Patty near Paris.

In just a few days, the city of Nice, in southeastern France, witnessed a stab attack on the church of Notre Dame, which resulted in three deaths, and was carried out by a 21-year-old Tunisian.

The French city of Lyon also witnessed an attack on a priest.