Terror in Vienna

At Least 2 Civilians, 1 Attacker Killed In Vienna As Police Launch Manhunt

Zero hedge

Mon, 11/02/2020 - 20:56

Update 2100ET): Police in Vienna have finished their late-night press conference offering more definitive details from Monday's shooting.

Auf unserer Facebookseite gibt es in Kürze einen Livestream zu Pressestatements von BM Nehammer, LPP Pürstl und Generaldirektor f. d. öff. Sicherheit Ruf: https://t.co/We5ll6soJB

— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 3, 2020

Police confirmed that 2 civilians died, along with one attacker, who was killed. 15 others were wounded, seven critically. At least one police officer was wounded. The number of attackers wasn't immediately clear.

The army has been brought in to the city to guard key targets while police focus all of their energies on the manhunt.

* * *

Update (1740ET): Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has officially labeled the incident in Vienna today as a "hideous terrorist attack". He added that the armed forces will be taking over from the police to allow police to focus on their anti-terror investigation.

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

However, some of the early details associated with the attack appear to have changed: Police say the location of the attack, near the Stadttempel synagogue, actually had nothing to do with the target: there was nobody in the synagogue at the time of the attack, and no Jews were hurt or killed.

Witnesses said the attacker randomly fired at people sitting outside in the city's bars and restaurants on Judengasse and Seitenstettengasse in central Vienna. "He did not aim at the Stadttempel [synagogue]," the witness said.

The Stadttempel synagogue was once target of a terror attack almost four decades ago, on Aug. 29 1981 two members of the Palestinian group Fatah, the Revolutionary Council, also known as ANO, tried to storm the synagogue building but were stopped at the gates by security forces. Two people were killed and 21 others injured in the attack.

In a series of tweets, Austrian President Sebastian Kurz thanked the emergency services who "risk their lives, especially today, for our safety" while adding that the military would temporarily assist the police in Vienna with the task of maintaining order, while police focus on the investigation.

— Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) November 2, 2020

"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. I am glad that our police officers have already been able to eliminate a perpetrator. We will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism and will fight these attacks resolutely by all means. 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. The whole country is in thoughts with the victims, injured and their families, to whom I express my deepest condolences. We thank the leaders of the European Union and our international partners for their sympathy and the expressions of solidarity."

-Sebastian Kurz

Among the 15 injured, 7 were listed as in critical condition. One of the injured is a police officer. Police originally responded to seven attackers armed with rifles who showed up at "six different shooting locations."

Meanwhile, reports of a massive death toll have been repudiated; only one citizen died in the attack, and one attacker, while others have apparently gotten away.

CONFIRMED at the moment:
*08:00 pm: several shots fired, beginning at Seitenstettengasse
*several suspects armed with rifles
*six different shooting locations
* one deceaced person, several injured (1 officer included)
*1 suspect shot and killed by police officers #0211w

— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 2, 2020

French President Emmanuel Macron has tweeted his condolences in what was a gesture of solidarity and support, saying "We, the French, share the shock and sadness of the Austrians after an attack in Vienna. It is a friendly country that is under attack. This is our Europe. Our enemies need to know who they are dealing with. We won’t give in to anything."

Wir, Franzosen, teilen den Schock und die Trauer von der Österreicher nach einer Angriff in Wien. Nach Frankreich ist es ein befreundetes Land, das angegriffen wird. Dies ist unser Europa. Unsere Feinde müssen wissen, mit wem sie es zu tun haben. Wir werden nichts nachgeben.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 2, 2020

Source: the Guardian

* * *

Update (1540ET): Austrian media now reporting seven dead, including one police officer, in Monday evening's attack near a synagogue in Vienna.

The Jewish community of Vienna has reportedly been instructed to stay indoors and remove kippot (skullcaps) and other Jewish items following an attack targeting a synagogue in the city. (Ynet)

— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) November 2, 2020

Austrian media is reporting seven dead, including one police officer, in the shooting near a Vienna synagogue. https://t.co/T47FK5L8Pd

— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) November 2, 2020

Media reports also said gunmen took hostages during the first shooting.

Another ahooting is reportedly underway at a Hilton hotel in Vienna, and hostages have reportedly been taken by terrorists at a third location.

All of this has the hint of coordination, though information is limited so far.

* * *

A potential terror attack is currently underway in Vienna, where gunshots have been reported at a synagogue that stands as the epicenter of what remains of the city's Jewish population.

The attack occurred near Schwedenplatz, a main square near the synagogue where a large police deployment was underway.

BREAKING NEWS: reports of a Synagogue shooting in Vienna, #Austria - police are responding to these reports. No details on casualties or fatalities.

— Mohammed Shafiq (@mshafiquk) November 2, 2020

Terroranschlag auf #Synagoge in #Wien!
Schießerei auf offener Straße.
Es gibt angeblich mehrere Tote!https://t.co/IhEnt92Oj2 #vienna pic.twitter.com/4NrRAN1J58

— Hartes Geld (@Hartes_Geld) November 2, 2020

Another video of one of the gunmen up close was uploaded to twitter.

DEVELOPING: Gunman opens fire at synagogue in Vienna, Austria; police say 'major operation' is underway

pic.twitter.com/LhpZ4uFCDt

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 2, 2020

The attacker has reportedly blown himself up with an explosive belt. Additional "perpetrators" are said to be on the run according to reports in a local newspaper. The number of suspects wasn't immediately clear. Police have asked Austrians to avoid the area in the city's First District where the attack took place.

There is a larger police operation going on in the 1st district of Vienna (Inner City area). Officers are on site and check the Situation. We keep you posted on the matter.

— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 2, 2020

Police were cordoning off the area around the Rotensturmstrasse. According to reports, one officer was shot and is in serious condition.

"It sounded like a blast," one eyewitness told the local press.

"Then you noticed that these were shots. Then you saw a person running down the Seitenstetten (who shot) wildly with an automatic weapon. He then turned down, at the (local) 'Roter Engel' from there in the direction of Schwedenplatz. He continued to shoot wildly there. Then the police came and fired. "

Eyewitnesses reported "at least 50 shots." There were pictures of at least one injured person who was bleeding on the floor in front of a bar and was being cared for.

The attacker is said to have blown himself up with an explosive belt after shooting synagogue guard, according to a Vienna newspaper. https://t.co/mKG1Cwqflm

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) November 2, 2020

Shots fired in the Inner City district - there are persons injured - KEEP AWAY from all public places or public Transport - don't share any Videos or Fotos!

— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 2, 2020

The total number of casualties and deaths remains unclear, though one police officer is said to have been seriously wounded.

Охрана синагоги.