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Vienna Attack: What is the latest?

Dania Zainuddin
November 3, 2020 15:27 MYT
Police officers stand guard on a street after exchanges of gunfire in Vienna, Austria November 3, 2020. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger
Multiple gunmen opened fire in central Vienna on Monday evening. Five people have died, including one attacker. Fifteen people were seriously injured.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says it was a “repulsive terror attack” and the police are still searching for at least one attacker who is at large.
The capital remains on high alert following the incident.
This is what we know so far:
  • Police confirmed on Tuesday that three civilians - two men and a woman - were killed in the attacks while 15 others were wounded, including a police officer. Austrian state broadcaster ORF later said a fourth civilian, a woman, had died.
  • One gunman has been shot dead by the police. A massive search operation has been launched for other attackers, with at least 1,000 police officers deployed across the city.
  • The attackers are well equipped with automatic weapons and professionally prepared.
  • Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer, in an early morning televised press conference, said one of the attackers, who was shot dead, was wearing an explosives belt that turned out to be fake. Authorities have identified the attacker as an Islamic State sympathiser.
    • "We experienced an attack yesterday evening by at least one Islamist terrorist, a situation that we have not had to live through in Austria for decades," Nehammer said.
  • The attack occurred on the last night before Austria imposed new national restrictions to try to stem rising cases of coronavirus. Many people were out enjoying their last few hours of freedom.
  • Vienna Police said they are using "all forces available" to keep the public safe.
  • Authorities have asked people to stay away from the centre of Vienna, including school and asked people not to share videos and images on social media of the attacks.
  • World leaders have expressed their solidarity with Austria and condemned the attack.

    • Todays shooting in Vienna is horrific and heartbreaking. We condemn in the strongest terms possible this act of terrorism. Our thoughts are with the people of Austria and everyone affected by this deplorable act.

    — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 3, 2020
    An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

    Im following with grave concern the violent attacks of terror in Vienna, one of our UN HQ. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms and reaffirm the @UN's solidarity with the people & Government of Austria. https://t.co/WQfbKhsMg6

    — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) November 3, 2020
    An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

    Deeply shocked and saddened by the dastardly terror attacks in Vienna. India stands with Austria during this tragic time. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 3, 2020
    An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

    Wir erleben gerade schwere Stunden in unserer Republik. Ich möchte allen Einsatzkräften danken, die insbesondere heute für unsere Sicherheit ihr Leben riskieren. Unsere Polizei wird entschlossen gegen die Täter dieses widerwärtigen Terroranschlags vorgehen.

    — Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) November 2, 2020
    An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.
    "We are currently going through difficult times in our republic. I would like to thank all the emergency services who risk their lives, especially today for our safety. Our police will take decisive action against the perpetrators of this hideous terrorist attack."
    - Sebastian Kurz via Twitter
    #Sebastian Kurz #shooting #terrorist #Vienna #police
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