Vienna shootings: Austria pursues suspect after attacks called ‘Islamist terrorists’

Austrian police urged residents to stay indoors amid efforts to search for the suspect after attacks at six different locations in Vienna that left four dead.

A gunman shot to death by police has been identified as a 20-year-old “Islamist terrorist” who was released early from jail last December.

Two men and two women died of their injuries after gunmen opened fire in the city center on Monday night (11/02).

Another 22 people were injured. One of the victims was a police officer, the Austrian Interior Ministry said.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the attack was sparked by “hatred of our way of life, our democracy.” Previously, he had called the attack a “disgusting terrorist attack.”

Austria is not facing a battle between Christians and Muslims, he said, but “between civilization and barbarism.”

The victims who died in the shooting were two women and two men. One of the women was reported as a waitress at the restaurant. The second woman died from her injuries, according to reports.

At a press conference, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said that the fully armed man killed by the police sympathized with a group calling itself the Islamic State or ISIS.

His house was ransacked and video materials were found. Police tweeted that he was wearing a fake explosive belt.

Nehammer previously said that at least one “fully armed and dangerous” assailant was believed to be on the run. Authorities say the number of suspected attackers is four.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called the series of incidents a “disgusting terrorist attack”.

One of the shooting sites was near the synagogue, but it was unclear if the Jewish place of worship was the target of the attack.

The police have closed off a large area of ​​the city in an attempt to find the shooter.

This incident occurred several hours before Austria enacted national regulations to stop the transmission of the corona virus. Many residents were having fun in restaurants and bars before they closed until the end of November.

Several leaders in Europe condemned the shooting. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “deeply affected by these horrible attacks.”

Police said the incident began at 8 p.m. local time near the Seitenstettengasse synagogue, Vienna’s main Jewish place of worship. At that moment, a fully armed man opened fire on people outside the cafeteria and restaurant.

Austrian special forces arrived at the scene shortly after. A policeman was shot and seriously injured. The alleged assailant, armed with an automatic rifle, a pistol and a machete, was then “immobilized” at 8:09 pm, police said.

The leader of the Jewish community, Oskar Deutsch, tweeted that the synagogue was closed at the time of the attack.

Among the injured was a security guard guarding the synagogue, the newspaper reported. Kronen newspaper.

A video clip posted on social media showed people running through the streets as shots broke out.

An eyewitness named Chris Zao admitted that he was in a restaurant near the scene of the shooting.

“We heard a sound like firecrackers. We heard 20 to 30 times and we thought it was a real shooting. We saw ambulances … lined up. There were some casualties. Unfortunately, we also saw a body lying on the road,” Zhao said. he told the BBC.

When major counterterrorism operations sprang into action, the police urged people to avoid the area and not use public transportation. Barricades were installed around the city center.

Police in the neighboring Czech Republic of Austria said they were conducting random checks at the Austrian borders amid fears that gunmen would cross the country.

On Twitter, Kurz said, “We are going through a difficult time in our republic.”

“Our police will act decisively against the perpetrators of this terrible terrorist attack. We will never be intimidated by terrorism,” he said.

European leaders strongly condemn this attack. French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe should not “give in” to the attacks.

“We French share our shock and pain with the Austrian people, tonight, with an attack in the city center, Vienna. After France, our friends were also attacked. This is our Europe. Our enemies must know who they are with. trying, “he said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also tweeted in support of Viennese citizens. He said he was “deeply shocked by the terrible attack.”

“Britain stands with the Austrian people, we are united with you in fighting terrorism,” he said.

The President of the Council of Europe, Charles Michel, called this a cowardly act that damages human values ​​and lives.