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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,” said the head of government a few hours after the start of the shooting.
“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 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.”
The president of a Jewish community, Oskar Deutsch, said the shooting was “near” the State 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
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