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Austrian authorities are looking for armed men responsible for a « repulsive terrorist attack » in Vienna, after the country’s interior minister told the national channel ORF that the offenders were still on the move
At least two people were killed and several injured in the attack in the Austrian capital on Monday evening
Among the two confirmed deaths was one of the attackers, who was shot dead by police
Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told ORF that a manhunt was underway for the « heavily armed and dangerous » attackers
« We have assembled several special forces units who are currently looking for suspected terrorists, » he said
« So I’m not limiting myself to a region of Vienna, because they are mobile authors »
Police say offenders with guns fired from six locations as they left near the Seitenstettengasse synagogue at around 8:00 p.m. local time on Monday
Unverified images posted on social media show gunmen walking through the streets of Vienna, apparently shooting at random people, injuring several
The six locations were in the immediate vicinity of the street where the synagogue is located
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig said 15 people were hospitalized, seven of whom suffered serious injuries
A section of central Vienna has been cordoned off and a large contingent of police has been deployed to the area
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the military will protect sites in the capital so that police can focus on anti-terrorism operations
« I would like to thank all the emergency forces who risk their lives for our safety, especially today
Vienna’s Jewish community leader Oskar Deutsch said the shooting took place on the street where the city’s main synagogue was located, but it was unclear whether it had been targeted
Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister said he saw at least one person shooting people sitting outside bars in the street under his window
« All of these bars have tables outside Tonight is the last night before the lockdown, » he added
« From midnight all bars and restaurants will be closed in Austria for the next month and many people probably wanted to take advantage of this evening to be able to go out »
Vienna police say their operation in the center of the city is underway and urged people to avoid all open spaces and public transport
« We are there with all the forces available. Please avoid all public places in the city »
Police also warned residents not to share videos or photos of the ongoing police operation, in order to avoid endangering officers
French President Emmanuel Macron took to Twitter following the attack, saying his country shares « the shock and sorrow of the Austrian people affected by an attack tonight »
« After France, it was a friendly country that was attacked This is our Europe… We will not give in », wrote M Macron
France has suffered three attacks in recent weeks: one by a Pakistani refugee who injured two people in front of the former headquarters of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the murder of a schoolteacher who was showing students cartoons of the Prophet of Islam and a deadly knife attack last Thursday in a church in the Mediterranean city of Nice
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was united with the Austrians in the aftermath of the attack
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig took to Viennese on Twitter, expressing shock at the attacks and urging people to stay inside while the police operation was underway
« We were deeply shocked to receive information about the shooting in the city center, » he said
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AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Vienna, terrorism, Austria, attack
World News – UA – Attackers open fire with rifles in streets of Vienna in terrorist attack
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
