Islamist terror attack in Vienna Austria
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| Image source:-google| Image by:- FT |
Four people are dead and at least 14 severely injured after a shooting in Vienna's inner district Monday evening, which was carried out by at least one attacker who was killed by officers, officials said.
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by the dastardly terror attacks and asserted that India stands with Austria during this tragic time. “Deeply shocked and saddened by the dastardly terror attacks in Vienna,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted. “India stands with Austria during this tragic time. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,
The shooting began shortly after 8 pm GMT Monday near Vienna’s main synagogue a day before the start of a month-long coronavirus lockdown. Jewish community leader Oskar Deutsch said on Twitter it was not clear whether the Vienna synagogue and adjoining offices had been the target and said they were closed at the time.
French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has experienced three Islamist attacks in recent weeks, said, “This is our Europe. Our enemies must know with whom they are dealing. We will not retreat.” US President Donald Trump tweeted, “Our prayers are with the people of Vienna after yet another vile act of terrorism in Europe.”
Police confirmed early Tuesday that three people had been killed in the attack, and later an Interior Ministry spokesman confirmed that a fourth woman had died.
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted on Tuesday morning that 14 people were injured and a law enforcement officer had been shot.
Six crime scenes were under investigation, police have said.
Police said Tuesday that the attack was carried out by at least one suspect who was armed with what police called an assault rifle as well as handguns. The suspect appeared to be wearing an explosive vest that was determined to have been a dummy device.
Authorities are trying to determine whether further attackers may be on the run, The Associated Press reported.
Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said that initial investigations indicate that the suspect who was killed had sympathized with the Islamic State group, according to the news agency. He declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.
Police said that the suspect's apartment has been searched, and police were evaluating numerous videos.
Authorities have asked anyone with photos or videos from the shooting to refrain from posting them to social media and instead upload them to share with police to aid in the investigation
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described the shooting as "hideous terrorist attack" in a statement posted to Twitter. Kurz thanked officers for their response and said the country "will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism."
"So that the police can concentrate fully on the fight against terrorism, the federal government has decided that the armed forces will take over the property protection previously carried out by the police in Vienna with immediate effect," Kurz said.
Alexander Van der Bellen, president of Austria offered his thoughts and compassion to the injured and their families in the "alleged terrorist attack in downtown Vienna."
