Just as people savoured their last day out before Austria went into lockdown again due to the Wuhan virus pandemic, Islamic terrorists opened fire near a synagogue in central Vienna leaving atleast two dead and several injured.
According to the police, several shots were fired shortly after 8 PM at the heart of Vienna in a bustling street near a synagogue. Reports say that there were six locations from where the terrorists opened fire.
Several gunmen are believed to be part of what seems to be a planned terror attack. One of the suspects was shot dead by the Austrian police.
Head of the Jewish community in Vienna said that the shooting took place in the street where the city’s main synagogue is located but added that it was not clear if the place of worship had been the target as it and the adjacent offices were closed at that time.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz said “We will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism and will fight these attacks resolutely by all means.”
Ich bin froh, dass unsere Polizisten bereits einen Täter ausschalten konnten. Wir werden uns durch Terrorismus niemals einschüchtern lassen und diese Angriffe mit allen Mitteln entschieden bekämpfen.
— Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) November 2, 2020
Interiror Minister Karl Nehammer called it as one of the most difficult days for Austria for a long time appealing to people to stay indoor and not venture into the downtown.
Das ist einer der schwierigsten Tage seit langem für uns in Österreich. Wir konnten einen Täter ausschalten, mindestens einer befindet sich auf der Flucht. Mein Appell: 1. Bitte bleiben Sie zu Hause. 2. Meiden Sie die Innenstadt. 3. Morgen gibt es keine Schulpflicht in Wien. 1/3
— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) November 3, 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron in response to the Islamic terrorist attack tweeted “We share the shock and sadness of the Austrians after an attack in Vienna. This is our Europe. Our enemies need to know who they are dealing with. We won’t give in to anything.”
Wir, Franzosen, teilen den Schock und die Trauer von der Österreicher nach einer Angriff in Wien. Nach Frankreich ist es ein befreundetes Land, das angegriffen wird. Dies ist unser Europa. Unsere Feinde müssen wissen, mit wem sie es zu tun haben. Wir werden nichts nachgeben.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 2, 2020
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres released a statement condemning the attacks.
Neighbouring countries have now gone on high alert with police carrying out random checks of vehicles and passengers on border crossings with Austria.