One of the attackers was shot dead by the police
At least three people were killed in the attack in Vienna, on November 2, Austrian interior Minister Karl Nehammer said. He also added that the killed terrorist was an Islamist and a sympathizer of the Islamic State.
According to Karl Nehammer, the dead terrorist was wearing an explosive belt.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz confirmed that the police regard the incident as a terrorist attack.
“Yesterday we experienced a terrorist attack that was staged by at least one Islamist terrorist, a situation that has not been seen in Austria for decades,” Nehammer told reporters early in the morning.
The shooting occurred at six different points in the first district of the city – Morzinplatz, Salzgris, Seitenstettengasse, Graben, Bauernmarkt and Fleischmarkt.
Der Täter war mit einen Sprengstoffgürtel, der sich als Attrappe herausgestellt hat und einem Sturmgewehr schwer bewaffnet. Er war Sympathisant der Terrormiliz IS. Es laufen derzeit umfassende Ermittlungen im Umfeld des Täters. 3/4
— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) November 3, 2020
According to the reports, three people, two men and one woman, were killed in yesterday’s attack and 15 more were injured.
As of 06:30 am, this is what we can confirm towards the assault in Vienna's inner city district: #0211w pic.twitter.com/AIzIovFyKh
— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 3, 2020
A big number of videos showing the attack were published in social media. However, the police asked not to share any information in social networks and upload it on a special link.
If you have footage of any kind of the shooting incident in the inner city of Vienna – please upload it on this link – DON’T share it on social media! This way you can support us! https://t.co/FQ2he2MMPs #0211w
— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 2, 2020
According to Nehammer, eyewitnesses of the incident provided the police with more than 20 thousand videos.
According to available information, there were several attackers, the police are looking for possible accomplices. The operation continues, it involves most of the city’s police and military. Moreover, the search area was expanded, as the terrorists could manage to leave Vienna.
A series of attacks on religious sites and priests is taking place in Europe after the French President E. Macron made a speech on 2 October, vowing to fight “radical Islamism”, eradicate “separatism” and uphold secular values at all costs.
His Austrian counterpart, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, confirmed his commitment to fight political Islam after 50 men of Turkish origin staged pogrom in a church in Vienna.
Alle Christen müssen in #Österreich frei und in Sicherheit ihren Glauben ausüben können! Wir werden den Kampf gegen den politischen Islam entschieden weiterführen und hier keine falsche Toleranz zeigen.
Danke an alle Polizisten für ihren Einsatz! https://t.co/1Psz3C82vn— Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) October 30, 2020
This incident is definitely not the last in a series of extremist attacks that have overwhelmed Europe.
