Austria’s Inside Minister Karl Nehammer has described the incident as a “terror assault,” and urged members of the general public to remain indoors, as police seek for the remaining attackers.
Gunfire erupted within the Austrian capital on Monday evening, simply hours earlier than the beginning of a nationwide lockdown to fight a resurgence of Covid-19.
In an announcement, police stated there have been a number of suspects “armed with rifles” and 6 completely different capturing areas. A number of folks have been injured within the metropolis heart.
“All potential forces” are responding to the incident, based on police, who’re urging folks to keep away from the world and to not share pictures or movies on social media.
The world the place the capturing befell is a busy district filled with bars and eating places, close to Vienna’s essential synagogue, Seitenstettengasse Temple.
Oskar Deutsch, the pinnacle of Vienna’s Jewish group, stated in a tweet that it was unclear whether or not the synagogue was a goal, however that it was closed on the time of the capturing.
The internal metropolis was packed forward of the midnight begin of the lockdown, and pictures shared on social media confirmed folks operating away from the scene.
European leaders have strongly condemned the assault, expressing their shock and sorrow.
“Europe strongly condemns this cowardly act that violates life and our human values,” the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated on Twitter.
It is a growing story, updates to comply with