Islamic State claims responsibility for Vienna attack, Austrian police arrest 14 in manhunt after gunman’s deadly rampage

VIENNA: Austrian police raided 18 properties and arrested 14 individuals in an enormous manhunt on Tuesday for potential accomplices of a convicted jihadist who shot lifeless 4 individuals and injured 22 others in a late-night rampage within the centre of Vienna.

The gunman, who was killed by police minutes after opening hearth on crowded bars on Monday, had been launched from jail lower than a 12 months in the past. He was recognized as Kujtim Fejzulai, a 20-year-old Austrian who additionally held North Macedonian nationality. It was the primary such militant assault in Vienna in a era, and the federal government pledged sturdy motion.

“We will defend our fundamental values, our way of life and our democracy with all our strength,” Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stated in a nationwide tackle about what he branded an Islamist terror assault. “We will find and hunt down the perpetrators, those behind this and their associates and mete out a just sentence. And we will pursue all those who have anything to do with this outrage with all available means.”

Swiss police additionally arrested two males on Tuesday close to Zurich in an investigation of potential hyperlinks to the gunman. Speaking later to broadcaster ORF, Kurz urged European nations to take extra decisive motion in opposition to terrorism. “We must give everyone who wants to integrate the chance to integrate, but we must at the same time make clear that our basic values are not negotiable,” he stated.

The assault adopted current lethal assaults by lone Islamist attackers in Nice and Paris. Many Muslims have been angered by the publication in strictly secular France of satirical caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.

“WE WILL REMAIN UNITED”

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Austrian Embassy to put in writing a message of condolence in German that learn: “In joy and in sorrow, we will remain united.” Both he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke to Kurz to supply their assist as expressions of solidarity poured in from world wide.

Islamic State claimed duty on Tuesday for the assault with out offering proof, the group`s Amaq News Agency stated in a press release on Telegram. An aged man and lady, a younger passer-by and a waitress had been amongst these killed within the assault, Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer stated. A German lady was additionally killed, Germany`s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated.

Vienna`s mayor stated three individuals had been nonetheless in essential situation. The usually bustling centre of Vienna was largely empty on Tuesday as the general public heeded authorities calls to remain inside and a manhunt for a potential second gunman was underway.

The gunman, armed with an assault rifle, a handgun and a machete, had opened hearth at six locations together with a bar close to Vienna`s principal synagogue on Monday as individuals loved the final night time out earlier than a COVID-19 curfew took impact. Interior Minister Nehammer stated Fejzulai had just lately served about eight months of a 22-month sentence for in search of to journey to Syria to affix Islamic State.

“He was released early exactly because he gave the impression that he had engaged with deradicalisation programmes and was prepared to integrate himself into society,” Nehammer instructed a information convention.

Fejzulai had posted a photograph on a social media account earlier than the assault, exhibiting himself with weapons, Nehammer stated. Whether anybody else was concerned in finishing up or making ready the assault remained unclear. After saying in a single day that one other attacker was on the unfastened, Nehammer stated there was no indication of one other assailant in massive volumes of cell phone footage of the assaults despatched in by the general public, but it surely couldn’t be dominated out.

North Macedonia`s Interior Ministry stated it believed three individuals – all born in Austria and holding twin Austrian and North Macedonian citizenship – had been concerned within the assault. It recognized them solely by initials and gave no additional data. A person recognized as Fejzulai`s grandfather instructed a neighborhood tv channel in North Macedonia that his grandson would go to his ancestral dwelling, the tiny mountain village of Cellopek, yearly.

THE BAND PLAYED ON

Chancellor Kurz, a conservative who takes a tough line on immigration, stated: “This is not a conflict between Christians and Muslims or between Austrians and migrants… No, this is a fight between… civilisation and barbarism.” The authorities introduced three days of nationwide mourning. A police spokesman stated no less than 1,000 officers had been concerned within the seek for accomplices. The military was guarding delicate websites in Vienna to liberate police for the operation.

A witness to the assault, Vienna Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister, stated he had seen one shooter however couldn’t be sure there have been no others.
Videos posted on social media confirmed a gunman working down a cobbled avenue taking pictures and yelling. One confirmed a person gunning down an individual exterior a bar on the road the place the synagogue is situated, then returning to shoot the identical particular person once more.

The taking pictures occurred because the Vienna State Opera was holding its remaining live performance earlier than a month-long coronavirus lockdown. Musicians performed on, regardless of information of the violence exterior: “If people weren`t allowed to leave anyway, why should we stop early?” a spokeswoman stated.

After the live performance, with the doorways nonetheless locked, 4 members of the orchestra got here again into the pit to play a Haydn string quartet for many who had been nonetheless of their seats. U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted: “These evil attacks against innocent people must stop. The U.S. stands with Austria, France, and all of Europe in the fight against terrorists, including radical Islamic terrorists.” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden condemned what he referred to as a “horrific terrorist attack”, including: “We must all stand united against hate and violence.”

Saudi minister of state for overseas affairs Adel Al-Jubeir stated on Twitter late on Tuesday that the Vienna assault was a “heinous crime… contrary to all religions and human values”.