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Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has condemned the “deterrent terrorist attack”.
“We have been victims of a deterrent terrorist attack in the federal capital, which is still continuing,” the head of government said a few hours after the shooting began.
“One of the attackers has been neutralized, but several more attackers appear to remain at large,” Kurzas said. – As far as we know, they also look very well stocked, they have automatic weapons. So they were very well prepared. “
Police said the first shots were heard after 8pm local time (9pm Lithuanian) on a busy street in the center of the city and a total of six locations were filmed. Disapproved videos posted on social media show attackers walking the streets and shooting victims seemingly at random.
It is not yet clear how many attackers in total were involved in the attack.
Police initially reported that the attackers killed one person and injured several more. The public broadcaster described the ORF victim as a passerby.
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig later told the ORF that another injured woman had died. According to him, another 15 people are hospitalized, seven of them in serious condition.
Police said one of the law enforcement officers was injured in the attacks.
Possible motives for the attack are being investigated, but Kurz said it could not be ruled out that the attack was anti-Semitic in nature, as the shooting began near Vienna’s main synagogue. The house of prayer was already closed at that time.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said the army had been asked to protect some important objects in the capital and that hundreds of well-armed law enforcement officers had been dispatched to capture the suspects. The minister urged people in Vienna to stay indoors and avoid visiting the city center, and also suggested that parents do not allow children to go to school on Tuesday.
During a press conference early Tuesday, Nehammer said at least one assailant remained at large.
Kurz praised the police who killed one of the attackers and promised: “We will never be intimidated by terrorism and we will combat such attacks by all means.”
Oscar Deutsch, president of a Jewish community, said the shooting occurred “near” the Stamped Synagogue, but added that it was not yet known whether the houses of worship themselves were the target of the attack.
Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister said he saw at least one man shoot people sitting in bars on the street where his apartment is located.
“They fired at least 100 shots in our building alone,” Sch. Hofmeister.
“All those bars have tables outside. This afternoon was the last night before the quarantine, he added. “From midnight, all the bars and restaurants in Austria will be closed until next month, so probably a lot of people wanted to take advantage of this night to go out and stay in the city.”
Police indicated that the circumstances of the incident are still being clarified.
Terrifying moments when shots rang out and the attackers started shooting nearby #synagogue – one of the residents (recording video) in #Vienna seen running with others to save their lives.#ViennaAttack #ViennaShots #Austria pic.twitter.com/Iqh7naxmIC
– ☝️Index Hakeem☝️ (@hakrashaa) November 3, 2020
Oscar Deutsch, president of a Jewish community, said the shooting occurred “near” the Stamped Synagogue, but added that it was not yet known whether the houses of worship themselves were the target of the attack.
It is not yet clear how many people died. The deaths of two people were officially reported, with the local newspaper Kurier reporting that 7 people were killed and 4 more injured.
MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR OF AUSTRIA:
– 7 dead and 15 injured
– People asked to stay home.
– 01 attacker still at large #Vienna #ViennaAttack pic.twitter.com/SpmnjzwU3e– SunBurn (@xfaish) November 3, 2020
“Cowardly act”
“At first the sound was like fireworks, but we soon realized that it was gunshots,” a witness told the public broadcaster ORF.
The assailant “fired as if with an automatic weapon” when police arrived and fired, the witness added.
People who lived in bars and restaurants were told to stay indoors.
“At first I thought maybe an American movie was being made or something had multiplied the alcohol,” said Jimmy Eroglu, a 42-year-old bartender.
But then he heard gunshots.
“The police came and said, ‘Everyone should stay inside because there is probably a dead person outside,'” the waiter said.
Robert Schneider, who lives in central Vienna, said he came out to see two laser beams on his chest.
“Hands up, take off your vest,” police yelled at the 39-year-old man.
“We have not seen or heard anything. We are in a state of shock, “Schneider told AFP.
To date, there have been no major attacks in Austria, similar to those that have affected many European countries in recent years.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has suffered two serious attacks in recent weeks, wrote on Twitter that “the French are experiencing shock and pain with the Austrian people.”
“A friendly country has been attacked after France,” Macron said, referring to an attack last Thursday in the southern town of Nice in which a man with a knife killed three people, as well as the brutal murder of a teacher by a young Islamist near Paris a few days earlier.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, wrote on Twitter that the Community “strongly condemns this cowardly act.” Many European and world leaders have expressed their support for Austria.
The Czech police have reported carrying out border controls with Austria.
“Following the terrorist attack in Vienna, the police carry out random checks of cars and passengers at border crossings,” the Czech police said on Twitter.
Following the Vienna shooting, US President Donald Trump also condemned “another act of terrorism.”
“The United States supports Austria, France and all of Europe in the fight against terrorists, including radical Islamic terrorists,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
“These malicious attacks against innocent people must stop,” he added.
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