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2020 Vienna attack

Coordinates: 48°12′42″N 16°22′36″E / 48.21167°N 16.37667°E / 48.21167; 16.37667
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2020 Vienna attacks
Image of the Stadttempel (synagogue) in Vienna, 2006
LocationSchwedenplatz, Vienna, Austria
Coordinates48°12′42″N 16°22′36″E / 48.21167°N 16.37667°E / 48.21167; 16.37667
Date2 November 2020 (2020-11-02)
20:00[1] (UTC+01:00)
Attack type
Shootings, suicide bombing
Deaths8+ (including a perpetrator)
Injured15+[2]
Perpetrators3

The 2020 Vienna attacks is a series of ongoing terrorist incidents,[3] involving multiple gunmen, across six locations in Vienna, the capital of Austria on 2 November 2020. As a result of the attacks, at least eight people were killed,[4] including one of the perpetrators,[5] and several more injured,[6] with one of them reportedly being a police officer. It was the first coordinated shooting attack in Europe since the November 2015 Paris attacks.[7]

Attacks

The attack began at around 20:00 local time,[1] in Schwedenplatz of Vienna, Austria, when an armed man started shooting. The shooting took place hours before the midnight start of a nationwide lockdown as new coronavirus restrictions came into force in Austria on Monday, including a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. local time, one of several currently being imposed in Europe to curb the spread of the COVID-19.[8] Several shots were fired and, according to reports, one of the perpetrators blew himself up with an explosive belt. There were reports of other perpetrators on the run.[9] At least eight people died in the shooting, including one perpetrator.[10] A hostage situation was also reported in the Akakiko restaurant, where there are an unknown amount of attackers and hostages, and the amount of injured or killed persons is currently unknown as well.[11] Local newspaper Kurier reported an attacker had taken random shots at people sitting outside cafes and bars on Judengasse and Seitenstettengasse in central Vienna.[12]

According to Oskar Deutsch, the head of the Jewish community in Vienna, at the time of the shooting, the synagogue was already closed before the shooting took place. A guard was critically injured outside the synagogue.[13]

Response

A large police deployment took place in Vienna right after the attack,[14] with all possible forces responding to the incident.[15] The police asked the population to avoid open sections and public transport of the area.[16] Metro services were not stopping in the city center.[citation needed] The army was deployed to secure buildings in Vienna.[17]

Casualties

At least eight people are confirmed dead, including an attacker, and several more injured from the synagogue shooting. It is not yet known how many dead or injured there are in the restaurant attack because it is a hostage situation.[4][5][6] The sole injured in the synagogue shooting is a police officer, as the synagogue was closed at the time of the attack.[7]

Perpetrators

According to reports, the shootings were conducted by two people. One of them was killed, while the other was on the loose. However, many more attacks are reported in the city, and the number of attacks might be higher.[5]

Reactions

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said the authorities believed that it was an apparent terror attack.[18]

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte conveyed full solidarity from the Netherlands and said that "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and with the Austrian government in dealing with this heinous act."[19]

References

  1. ^ a b O'Callaghan, Laura (2 November 2020). "Vienna shooting: Terror attack fears after multiple shots fired by city's main synagogue". Daily Express. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. ^ Schuetze, Christopher F.; Eddy, Melissa; Bennhold, Katrin; Koettl, Christoph (2 November 2020). "Vienna Shooting Live Updates: City Center in Chaos After Gunmen Open Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  3. ^ Vienna shooting believed to be terror attack - interior minister
  4. ^ a b "7 reported dead in Vienna attack also said to have targeted synagogue". Times of Israel. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Austria: Several people injured in Vienna shooting". Al Jazeera. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Several Injured in Vienna as Reports Emerge of Attack on Synagogue". Haaretz. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. ^ a b Hawkins, Jamie (2 November 2020). "Vienna incident: 'Attack on synagogue' as 'gunshots fired' near main square". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  8. ^ Oltermann, Philip (2 November 2020). "Man killed and several people injured in terror attack in Vienna". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Terrorangriff in Wien: Täter zündete Sprengsatz". Kronen Zeitung (in German). 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Hostage situation reported in Vienna's Akakiko restaurant". www.teletrader.com. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  11. ^ Irfan, Muhammad (2 November 2020). "Hostages Taken In Restaurant In Vienna - Reports". UrduPoint. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  12. ^ Oltermann, Philip (2 November 2020). "Man killed and several people injured in terror attack in Vienna". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  13. ^ Associated Press (2 November 2020). "Several reportedly injured, fatalities possible in Vienna attack". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Large police deployment in Vienna, paper reports attack on synagogue". Reuters. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. ^ Cullen, Simon; Mackintosh, Eliza (2 November 2020). "Police launch major operation in Vienna after shots fired". CNN. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Police operation at Vienna synagogue after shots fired". ABC News. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Terror in Wien: Zahlreiche Verletzte und angeblich sieben Tote". Kurier. 2 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Casualties in Vienna 'terrorist' shooting". BBC News. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  19. ^ "https://twitter.com/minpres/status/1323377164650270723". Twitter. Retrieved 2 November 2020. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
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