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VIENNA: Three people, including an attacker, were killed in central Vienna on Monday night (November 2) in what Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described as a “repulsive terrorist attack.”
READ: Gunmen kill two in ‘terror attack’ in Vienna, persecution started
Here are the main reactions so far to the shootings, which according to police began around 8pm (1900 GMT) and took place in six different locations:
AUSTRIA
“We are living difficult hours in our republic,” Foreign Minister Kurz said on Twitter.
“Our police will act decisively against the perpetrators of this repulsive terrorist attack. Terrorism will never intimidate us and we will fight this attack with all means.”
A man raises his hands as police officers search him on a street after exchanges of gunfire in Vienna, Austria, on November 2, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Lisi Niesner).
FRANCE
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “We French share the shock and pain of the Austrian people after the attack in Vienna.”
“After France, it is a friendly nation that has been attacked. This is our Europe. Our enemies must know who they are dealing with. We will concede nothing,” he tweeted in both French and German.
GERMANY
Germany promised not to “give in to the hatred that is supposed to divide our societies.”
“Even if we cannot yet foresee the scale of the terror, our thoughts are with the wounded and victims in these difficult hours,” the Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter, calling the news from neighboring Austria “horrible and disturbing.”
Police block a street near Schwedenplatz square after exchanges of gunfire in Vienna, Austria, on November 2, 2020 (Photo: Reuters / Lisi Niesner).
BRITTANY
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that he was “deeply shocked” by the events of the night and that “the thoughts of the UK are with the people of Austria – we are united with you against terrorism.”
ITALY
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said “there is no room for hatred and violence in our common European home”, while his Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio tweeted that “Europe must react.”
I
The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, said: “Europe strongly condemns this cowardly act that violates life and our human values. My thoughts are with the victims and the people of #Vienna after tonight’s horrible attack. We support Austria “.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted that she was “shocked and saddened”, and that “her thoughts are with the families of the victims and the Austrian people.”
The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, said he felt “sadness and horror” and the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, called it “a cowardly act of violence and hatred”.
Police officers search a person after a shooting in a neighborhood of a synagogue in Vienna, Germany, on Monday, November 2, 2020 (Photo / Ronald Zak).
CZECH REPUBLIC
In the Czech Republic, which is Austria’s neighbor, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he was “horrified by the attack” and wanted to “express my solidarity with all the people in Austria and with my friend Sebastian Kurz.”
Czech police said they had started random checks at the country’s border with Austria.
“The police are carrying out random checks of vehicles and passengers at the border crossings with Austria as a preventive measure in relation to the terrorist attack in Vienna,” the Czech police tweeted.
Police also said they had stepped up “monitoring of major Jewish facilities in the Czech Republic” in a preventive measure that “reflects developments not only in neighboring Austria.”
GREECE
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted that he was “shocked by the horrible attacks in #Vienna” and had offered “full solidarity” to Kurz Athens.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Vienna and the authorities dealing with the situation. Our hearts, with the victims and their loved ones,” added Mitsotakis.
CANADA
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his condolences, calling the attack “horrifying and heartbreaking.”
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this act of terrorism,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the people of Austria and all those affected by this deplorable act.”
AUSTRALIA
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted his shock at the “horrible terrorist attacks in Austria”.
He said: “The situation remains fluid and the details of the attack are not yet clear,” and offered the Austrian chancellor and the people of the country his thoughts and assurances.
UNITED STATES
Robert O’Brien, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, said Americans prayed for the people of Vienna.
“There is no justification for hatred and violence like this. We are with Austria, France and all of Europe in the fight against terrorism,” O’Brien said.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden condemned what he called a “terrible terrorist attack” and added: “We must all stand together against hate and violence.”
