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Austria has been in agony since 8 p.m. Monday when an armed group carried out a terrorist attack in central Vienna, which according to initial reports has claimed the lives of three people, while 15 others are being treated for injuries. . . Among these are the serious seven.
A police officer, a woman and one of the perpetrators of the attack are reportedly dead.
The chronology of the attack
After the briefing by the Minister of the Interior, Carl Nehamer, and what was disseminated by the local media, the facts are as follows:
The first shots were heard in the center of Vienna, near the Jewish synagogue at 8 pm local time (9 am Greek time). Unknown persons opened fire on patrons of adjacent bars and restaurants and fired indiscriminately. Very strong police forces arrived at the scene to deal with the situation.
♦ As Carl Nehammer announced, there are “several dead and wounded.” A policeman and one of the perpetrators, who were neutralized by the police, are dead. Initial reports that he had blown up or that he was carrying a bag of explosives were not confirmed after police pyrotechnicians examined the body.
The Austrian Interior Minister, who has announced a new update scheduled for 6 in the morning, pointed out that at least one perpetrator is missing, avoiding confirming information that the perpetrators are many, even 10, according to some media. However, he appealed to the Austrians: “If possible: stay home and avoid the city center.” He even told them that the danger had not passed.
Police operations continued throughout the night.
Concern prevails over those trapped in the city center, which has been cordoned off by the police over a wide radius, while the army has taken over the surveillance of important buildings for the police to investigate. The traffic ban due to the coronavirus pandemic did not go into effect at midnight.
Police confirmed that they are operating at six different points in the city, without giving further information on the exact events, while Austrian media are informed that “possibly hostage situations” are ongoing.
As for the perpetrators, their number is unknown, however they are reported to be heavily armed and likely driving cars, although they may also carry explosives. However, no one yet knows anything about his identity or his true motives.
♦ For precautionary reasons, the presence of students in schools is not compulsory, while citizens were asked not to get on public transport either.
The Czech police announced that they are carrying out checks on the country’s border with Austria, due to the terrorist act in Vienna, with the authorities with whom there is close collaboration. He added that he now “monitors the main Jewish facilities in the Czech Republic”, a measure he added that he decided to take “due to the situation in Austria and beyond.”
Ώρες Hours after the attack, the German Foreign Ministry updated its Austrian travel directive, which referred to the “unclear” situation currently prevailing in central Vienna, urging Germans to avoid public spaces in the center. from the Austrian capital. “Stay safe until the alarm goes off. You follow the instructions of the Police,” the instruction emphasizes.
“Hateful terrorist attack”
Austrian authorities announced early on that they were treating the incident as a terrorist act, which may have been attributed to a report by the Intelligence Group, a non-governmental organization that monitors the online activities of primarily jihadists. The attack in Vienna is “the bill” for Austria’s participation in the US-led coalition.
“The police have taken decisive action,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said, referring to a “heinous terrorist attack.” “We will not be intimidated by terrorism and we will combat these attacks by all means,” he said.
The terrorist attack is organized “in a very professional way,” he added. “The perpetrators are very well equipped, the situation is very critical,” said Sebastian Kurtz, noting that some perpetrators are still on the run.
EU support
Messages of support to the Austrian people and condemnation of the terrorist attack He came from all over Europe to the chancellery. All European leaders, including Emanuel Macron and Boris Johnson, emphasize unity in the face of the blind violence of terrorism.
From Greece, the messages were sent by the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the leader of the official opposition, Alexis Tsipras.
