ISIS takes responsibility for terrorist attack in Vienna

Five people were killed and 14 were wounded in a coordinated attack at six locations in the heart of the Austrian capital, near the main synagogue. The country's chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, called it a "repulsive terror attack". On Tuesday evening, ISIS took responsibility

ISIS takes responsibility for terrorist attack in Vienna

Vienna, Monday night. Photo: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

At least five people were killed and 14 were wounded, some of them seriously, on Monday in a coordinated terrorist attack at six locations in the heart of Vienna, the capital of Austria. Around 8pm local time, gunfire erupted in the area near the city's main synagogue that is full of restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Many locals were in the area to enjoy the final evening before the start of another lockdown due to the worsening of the coronavirus epidemic in the country. Large forces of police arrived in the area and succeeded in killing one of the terrorists. On Tuesday evening, ISIS (Islamic State) took responsibility for the attack.   

"We are experiencing difficult hours in our republic," said the chancellor of Austria, Sebastian Kurz, in a Twitter post shortly after the attack. "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 repulsive terror attack."   

According to the current estimates, at least three terrorists were involved in the attack. The interior minister of Austria, Karl Nehammer, announced that the terrorist who was killed Monday night by the security forces was an Islamist supporter of ISIS who was heavily armed. The police announced that the terrorist had pistols and an assault rifle in his possession, and was wearing what appeared to be an explosive vest, as the interior minister had reported earlier, but it turned out to be fake. On Tuesday evening, when the terrorist's identity was revealed, it was discovered that he was known to the security authorities as they had arrested him last year while he was on the way to join ISIS in Syria. He was released from prison a short time afterwards.     

All of the synagogues, Jewish educational institutions, stores and kosher restaurants in Vienna were closed Tuesday, and Jews were requested to remove signs of their religion such as the kippa even though it is still not clear whether the attack was directed against the main synagogue. Since the manhunt for the terrorists is still underway, the residents of the capital were requested not to send their children to educational institutions, to avoid public transportation and to stay home as much as possible.  

Condemnation of the attack poured in from leaders around the world, mainly via their Twitter accounts. Emmanuel Macron, the president of France which has suffered two Islamic terrorist attacks during the last two weeks, who is known for his hard line and strong comments against radical Islam, tweeted that all of France shares the shock and pain of the Austrian nation. "This is our Europe. Our enemies must know who they are dealing with. We will not retreat." 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also published a condemnation on Twitter. "Israel condemns the brutal attack in Vienna and stands in total solidarity with Austria. Civilized peoples everywhere must unite to defeat the savagery of resurgent Islamist terrorism." Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country is ready to cooperate with Austria against terror. Joe Biden, the Democratic US presidency candidate, tweeted that he and his wife are praying for the victims, and that "We must all stand united against hate and violence." President Donald Trump tweeted that "These evil attacks against innocent people must stop. The U.S. stands with Austria, France, and all of Europe in the fight against terrorists, including radical Islamic terrorists."

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