At least four people were killed in the attack in the center of Vienna, including a German woman. The number of injured has been adjusted up to 22. The perpetrator was shot by the police. The Austrian Ministry of the Interior has not yet identified any indications of a second perpetrator. After house searches of the entourage of the 20-year-old attacker, who had links with the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), 14 suspects have been taken into police custody. We know this so far about last night’s attack in the Austrian capital.
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The shooting started around 8 pm near a synagogue in the Seitenstettengasse. It then also came to other firefights, including in the vicinity of Schwedenplatz. Fire was opened at six locations in the city. Witnesses are said to have heard up to 50 shots.
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According to Mayor Michael Ludwig of Vienna, passers-by in the vicinity of the synagogue and people on terraces of surrounding catering businesses were shot at random.
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The attack happened on the eve of the second lockdown, which starts today in Vienna and in which the catering industry has to close its doors. Many cafes had set up their terraces last night and many people went out for a drink outside, partly due to the mild late summer weather.
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Dead and wounded
The shootings claimed the lives of at least four civilians. It concerns an older man and an older woman, a young passer-by and a waitress. One victim died last night and two others last night. A fourth victim died of his injuries this morning.
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One of the victims was of German nationality, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas, confirmed in a press statement this afternoon. It is a woman. “We now have the sad certainty that a German citizen is one of the victims of the attack in Vienna,” said Maas, expressing his condolences to the relatives.
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According to Austrian media, there is a fifth victim, but that has not been officially confirmed. It was said to be a 21-year-old who was seriously injured and was treated in hospital.
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The number of injured has now risen to 22, the Vienna police confirm. Seven injured are in danger of death. A police officer who was injured has been operated on successfully. His condition is stable.
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Killed offender
The perpetrator of the shooting was shot dead by police nine minutes after the start of his attack. “It would have been much worse without the rapid intervention of agents,” said Austrian Minister of the Interior, Karl Nehammer.
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The attacker is one 20-year-old man previously convicted of involvement in a terrorist organization. In April 2019, the young man was convicted for attempting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (IS). He had been sentenced to 22 months in prison but was released on parole in early December.
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According to Nehammer, the perpetrator had both Austrian and North Macedonian nationality. “It was equipped with a fake bomb belt, an automatic rifle, a pistol and a machete to carry out this disgusting attack on innocent civilians,” said the minister. The mayor of Vienna said earlier that the murdered perpetrator was “very comprehensively prepared”.
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Searches and arrests
Minister Nehammer said there is so far no evidence that the deadly attack was carried out by more than one gunman. “The video material being reviewed by the police does not show any evidence of a second attacker at this point,” said Nehammer.
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He previously stated that at least one other suspect was on the run. The police have received approximately 20,000 videos from civilians to investigate.
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Nehammer stressed that the security forces remain in a high state of alert before it is finally established that the radical Islamist acted alone.
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Fourteen arrests have already been made as part of the investigation into the attack. These are people associated with the attacker who have been arrested for questioning. Raids were also carried out at eighteen locations, including Sankt-Pölten and Linz. The home of the killed attacker was also searched by officers.
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Vienna’s historic city center is closed. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has deployed the army to secure the capital. He condemns the “Disgusting terrorist attack”. Austria, in consultation with neighboring countries, has strengthened border surveillance and increased the number of border checks.
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National mourning
The Austrian government has declared three days of national mourning. At noon, a minute of silence was held across the country. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to the victims, the injured and others involved in the attack during these particularly difficult hours for our country,” said Chancellor Kurz. “This attack is a heinous act and an attack on the freedom and democracy of Austria.”
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Austrians have been asked to stay indoors. Viennese children have been released from compulsory school today.
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