Vienna terror attack: 2 killed, many injured, massive manhunt launched
Gunmen attacked six areas in central Vienna on Monday beginning exterior the primary synagogue, killing two folks and injuring at the very least 14 in what Austria known as a “repulsive terror attack” whereas looking a number of assailants on the unfastened.
Witnesses described the lads firing into crowds in bars with automated rifles, as many individuals took benefit of the final night earlier than a nationwide curfew was launched due to COVID-19. Police shot and killed one assailant.
Police sealed off a lot of the historic centre of Vienna, urging the general public to shelter in place. Many sought refuge in bars and resorts, whereas public transport all through the outdated city was shut down and police scoured the town.
“It is the hardest day for Austria in many years. We are dealing with a terror attack the severity of which, thank God, we have not experienced in Austria in many years,” Interior Minister Karl Nehammer advised a information convention.
Austria`s capital had thus far been spared the sort of lethal militant assaults which have struck Paris, London, Berlin and Brussels, amongst others, lately. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz stated the “repulsive” act was “definitely a terror attack”, however he couldn’t say what the motive was.
Oskar Deutsch, the pinnacle of Vienna`s Jewish group, which has workplaces adjoining the synagogue on a slim cobbled avenue dotted with bars, stated on Twitter that it was not clear whether or not the temple or workplaces have been focused however that they have been closed on the time.
Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister advised London`s LBC radio he was dwelling within the compound of the synagogue. “Upon hearing shots, we looked down (from) the windows and saw the gunmen shooting at the guests of the various bars and pubs,” he stated.
“The gunmen were running around and shooting at least 100 rounds or even more in front of our building,” he stated.
Border checks have been being bolstered, the Interior Ministry stated, and kids wouldn’t be required to attend faculty on Tuesday. Although folks have been urged to remain indoors Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig advised broadcaster ORF the town would run usually on Tuesday, albeit with a more durable police presence.
MANHUNT
“According to what we currently know, at least one perpetrator is still on the run,” Nehammer stated.
“We have brought several special forces units together that are now searching for the presumed terrorists. I am therefore not limiting it to an area of Vienna, because these are mobile perpetrators,” Nehammer earlier advised ORF.
Kurz stated the military would defend websites within the capital so the police might deal with anti-terror operations. Speaking to ORF, he stated the attackers “were very well equipped with automatic weapons” and had “prepared professionally”.
Videos circulated on social media of a gunman operating down a cobblestone avenue taking pictures and shouting. One confirmed a person gunning down an individual exterior what gave the impression to be a bar on the road housing the synagogue. Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the movies.
Condolences poured in from all over the world, with prime officers from the European Union, France, Norway, Greece and the United States expressing their shock on the assaults.
President Emmanuel Macron of France, which has seen two lethal knife assaults in Paris and Nice in latest weeks, issued a press release expressing shock and sorrow.
“This is our Europe,” he stated. “Our enemies must know with whom they are dealing. We will not retreat.”
French officers have ramped up safety for the reason that assaults in Paris and Nice, which had suspected Islamist motives. Macron has deployed 1000’s of troopers to guard websites reminiscent of locations of worship and colleges, and ministers have warned that different Islamist militant assaults might happen.
Robert O`Brien, President Donald Trump`s nationwide safety adviser, stated Americans have been praying for the folks of Vienna.
“There is not any justification for hatred and violence like this. We stand with Austria, France, and all of Europe within the battle in opposition to terrorism,” O`Brien stated.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden condemned what he known as a “horrific terrorist attack,” including, “We must all stand united against hate and violence.”
In 1981, two folks have been killed and 18 injured throughout an assault by two Palestinians on the identical Vienna synagogue. In 1985, a Palestinian extremist group killed three civilians in an assault on the airport.
Nehammer is because of maintain a information convention on the state of affairs at 6 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Tuesday.
$(function() { return $("[data-sticky_column]").stick_in_parent({ parent: "[data-sticky_parent]" }); });
reset_scroll = function() { var scroller; scroller = $("body,html"); scroller.stop(true); if ($(window).scrollTop() !== 0) { scroller.animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, "fast"); } return scroller; };
window.scroll_it = function() { var max; max = $(document).height() - $(window).height(); return reset_scroll().animate({ scrollTop: max }, max * 3).delay(100).animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, max * 3); };
window.scroll_it_wobble = function() { var max, third; max = $(document).height() - $(window).height(); third = Math.floor(max / 3); return reset_scroll().animate({ scrollTop: third * 2 }, max * 3).delay(100).animate({ scrollTop: third }, max * 3).delay(100).animate({ scrollTop: max }, max * 3).delay(100).animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, max * 3); };
$(window).on("resize", (function(_this) { return function(e) { return $(document.body).trigger("sticky_kit:recalc"); }; })(this));
}).call(this);
} on_load_google_ad(); function sendAdserverRequest() { try { if (pbjs && pbjs.adserverRequestSent) return; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); } catch (e) {
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().refresh(); }); } } setTimeout(function() { sendAdserverRequest(); }, 5000);
function on_load_fb_twitter_widgets(){ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.9"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));
window.twttr = (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], t = window.twttr || {}; if (d.getElementById(id)) return t; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); t._e = []; t.ready = function(f) {
t._e.push(f); }; return t; }(document, "script", "twitter-wjs")); }
//setTimeout(function() { on_load_google_ad(); }, 5000); setTimeout(function() { on_load_fb_twitter_widgets(); }, 5000);
Source