Vienna terror attack: Several dead after shootings in Austrian capital

Vienna was on lockdown on Monday evening as Austrian police and military attempted to secure the city against a terror attack which started at 8pm in front of the city’s main synagogue and was perpetrated by several attackers.

Several people were killed in the attack, and at least one gunman remains on the run, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said.

City authorities have warned the Viennese to stay at home as "heavily armed gunmen” were still at large. The chief of Vienna City's Hospitals confirmed 15 had been injured.

Police have confirmed that shots were fired at six different locations, while unconfirmed media reports suggest that up to 10 attackers were involved in the assault. One gunman was shot by police and at least two civilians were killed.

Four alleged perpetrators were detained at 11pm at Graben, close to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Video footage shows three male dressed in the same loose fitting beige clothes that one of the attackers was wearing in a video posted online.

Terrified locals reported hearing machine gun fire in the narrow streets of the old city. Restaurants locked their doors and guests, who had come out to enjoy a last night out before four weeks of coronavirus lockdown, threw themselves to the ground.

With nerves on edge in the city, police have responded in large numbers to call outs in at least two locations, one of them the Museum of Applied arts.

Video footage seen by the Telegraph shows men dressed in loose fitting beige clothes carrying assault rifles. One of the attackers can be seen shooting a bystander from close range. In another video a police officer falls to the ground after being hit by a bullet. 

While one of the terrorists was killed by police, the others were still on the run, with no official indication given as to their whereabouts.

Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig said he was “deeply affected by this shocking crime.” Mr Ludwig added that the attacker who died was believed to be wearing a suicide belt.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted his thoughts on the attack, calling it a "repulsive terror attack".

"We are currently experiencing difficult hours in our republic. I would like to thank all the emergency forces who are risking their lives for our safety, especially today. Our police will take decisive action against the perpetrators of this repulsive terrorist attack," Mr Kurz wrote on Twitter.

With the location of several other attackers still unknown, the Austrian army’s elite Jagdkommando unit was called in to assist the police.

“It is imperative that we use all our available forces to ensure that the state imposes itself," the Chancellery said.

Czech police said they had started random checks on the border with Austria following Monday's attack near a Vienna synagogue that had left at least two dead and several injured.

"Police are carrying out random checks of vehicles and passengers on border crossings with Austria as a preventive measure in relation to the terror attack in Vienna," Czech police tweeted.

Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said in a tweet Czech police were in touch with Austrian colleagues following the "dreadful news from Vienna".

The owner of a restaurant near the synagogue told Der Standard that he was in the process of closing his restaurant when he heard shots.

"I looked outside, someone ran past and probably shot someone in front of the synagogue, the man said. “He was wearing a white jogging suit or something similar and he kept shooting.”

Another person who was dining at a local restaurant reported hearing several shots before someone shouted ‘lights out lock the doors.” The man told the news agency APA that they had to wait in the restaurant´for two hours before police decided they could leave.

“There was a dreadful fear among the guests there,” the man said.

World leaders expressed their condolences, and defiance, in the face of the attacks. 

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, in French then German, that France would share Austria's sorrow in the face of the attacks. He added: "We will not give up." 

Boris Johnson said that “I am deeply shocked by the terrible attacks in Vienna tonight. The UK’s thoughts are with the people of Austria - we stand united with you against terror.

The attack has reminded Austria of a horrific incident of terror which took place outside the same synagogue, the Stadttempel on the Seittenstettengasse in 1981.

On that occasion Palestinian terrorists attacked Jewish worshippers with hand grenades and automatic weapons, killing two people injuring a further 18 including three children.

In 1985 there was a further attack by Palestinian terrorist on Jewish community took place at the ticket office for the Israeli Airline El-Al at Vienna Airport. Two civilians died in that attack.