In yet another alleged terrorist attack, five people including an assailant died, and 15 people were wounded in a shooting in Vienna on Monday night, hours before a Coronavirus lockdown was to start, said a top Vienna security official.
On Tuesday, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said that two men and two woman have died from their injuries in the attack late on Monday. A suspected attacker carrying an assault rifle and a fake suicide vest was killed by the police.
The Interior Minister said that initial investigations indicate the suspect who was killed had sympathized with the Islamic State (IS) group. Austrian news agency APA reported that police searched his apartment and other premises as well.
“We experienced an attack last night by at least one Islamist terrorist,” Nehammer told reporters. He declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation.A police officer was among those injured in the attack, said Nehammer. The officer is in the hospital but is stable.
People in Vienna were urged to stay at home if possible on Tuesday.
The shooting began shortly after 8 pm (19:00 GMT) on Monday near Vienna’s main synagogue as many people were enjoying a last night of open restaurants and bars before the start of a month-long lockdown.
