What we know, what is unclear

The Viennese police blocked a street near Schwedenplatz in the first district of the capital. On Monday night there was an alleged terrorist attack in the center of the city with deaths and injuries.

Lisi Niesner / Reuters

The latest developments

• According to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP), there is still nothing clear after the attack that left two dead on Monday night in Vienna. “It is definitely a terrorist attack,” Kurz said Tuesday night on ORF. He urged the population to stay in a safe place and be attentive to the news. “Whether it is possible to resume normal public life tomorrow morning will largely depend on tonight and whether it will be possible to capture or eliminate the suspects,” Kurz said.
• The army with soldiers is now also deployed in the city center of Vienna. The Austrian Armed Forces have taken over the full protection of property in the capital, the APA news agency reported, citing the Chancellery.
• Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen strongly condemned the alleged terrorist attack in Vienna and assured the victims of his support. “We are all deeply affected,” the head of state said Monday night on Twitter. Many heads of state and government of other countries also expressed their shock and solidarity with Austria.

Where did the shots come from?

In the first district, the center of Vienna, which today is still largely cordoned off. The police speak of a total of six crime scenes. A popular nightlife district is affected: the area around the main synagogue Seitenstettengasse, the farmers market, the meat market, Morzinplatz, Salzgries and Graben. According to the police, there are currently no public transport stops in the center of Vienna. “Stay safe, leave public places immediately,” tweeted police in the Austrian capital on Monday night. The mission continued even after 11pm.:

How many dead and wounded are there?

According to one Vienna Police Tweet there was a fatality (a bystander) and several seriously injured, including a policeman guarding the synagogue. Furthermore, the police shot an alleged perpetrator. The Vienna ambulance service also speaks of several deaths and injuries. By late Monday night, 15 injured were admitted to hospitals. So said the spokesman for the Vienna Health Association, Christoph Mierau, the Austrian news agency APA. At least seven of the victims were seriously injured.

Who are the perpetrators and what is the motive?

That is still not entirely clear. Police speak of several perpetrators with firearms near the synagogue. The Austrian news agency APA reported, citing the Interior Ministry, that there had been an arrest. Police confirm that an alleged perpetrator was shot. Others may be on the run.

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told ORF that it was apparently a terrorist attack. “The attack is still ongoing,” Nehammer said.

Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig stated that one of the attackers may have been using a belt of explosives. There is this assumption, he said Monday night on ORF. We will know more soon. Ludwig explained that in the attack “people in the pubs” were randomly shot, especially those who were sitting outside. It cannot be estimated at the moment if there are “more dangers”.

Was it the attack on the synagogue?

That is not clear either. Several of the alleged perpetrators were definitely seen with weapons nearby. According to the police, the first shots were also fired at Seitenstettengasse, where the synagogue is located. The synagogue was closed at the time of the shooting. Oskar Deutsch, the president of the Israelite religious community in Austria, simply confirmed that all parishioners had been asked to stay home.