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Gunmen opened fire on people enjoying a final night in Vienna before a coronavirus lockdown, in a terrorist attack that left at least two dead, including one of the attackers, and 15 wounded, authorities said.
“We are victims of a despicable terrorist attack in the federal capital that is still ongoing,” Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said hours after the shooting erupted.
“One of the perpetrators was neutralized, but several perpetrators appear to be on the loose,” he said. “From what we know they also seem to be very well equipped, with automatic weapons. So they were very well prepared. It is definitely a terrorist attack. “
He praised the police for killing one of the attackers and promised: “We will never be intimidated by terrorism and we will combat these attacks with all means.”
Police said multiple shots were fired shortly after 8 p.m. on a lively street in the center of the city and that there were six shooting sites.
Austria’s top security official said authorities believe multiple gunmen were involved and that a police operation was still underway hours later.
“It appears to have been a terrorist attack,” Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told the public broadcaster ORF, adding that the assailants were armed with rifles. He said the army had been asked to monitor key locations in the city to allow police officers to pursue the attackers.
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig said 15 people were admitted to the hospital, seven with serious injuries.
Oskar Deutsch, the head of the Jewish community in Vienna, said the shooting took place on the street in front of the city’s main synagogue, but it was unclear whether it was the target. The synagogue was closed at the time, he said.
Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister said he saw at least one person shoot people sitting outside in street bars below his window.
“They were firing at least 100 rounds outside our building,” Hofmeister said.
“All these bars have tables outside. Tonight is the last night before the confinement, ”he added.
“Starting at midnight, all bars and restaurants will be closed in Austria for the next month, and a lot of people will probably want to use that night to be able to go out.”
CONFIRMED at the moment:
* 08:00 pm: several shots, starting at Seitenstettengasse
* several suspects armed with rifles
* six different filming locations
* one person deceived, several injured (1 officer included)
* 1 suspect shot dead by police officers # 0211w– VIENNA POLICE (@LPDWien) November 2, 2020
Kurz said these were “difficult hours for our republic” and promised: “Our police will act decisively against those responsible for this despicable terrorist attack.”
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that the French “share the shock and grief of the Austrian people affected by an attack tonight.”
“After France, this is a friendly country that has been attacked. This is our Europe … We will not give up, ”he wrote.
France has suffered three attacks attributed to Muslim extremists in recent weeks.
The Vienna authorities urged people to avoid all open spaces and public transportation. Police said the trams and buses were not stopping and urged social media users not to post videos of the police operation so as not to endanger the officers.
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