Vienna shootings toll reaches 4, manhunt on for suspect

At least four people were killed and 17 others injured when gunmen opened fire in six different locations in the Austrian capital of Vienna authorities said on Tuesday adding that a manhunt was on for at least one suspectThe shootings took place at about 8 pm on Monday near the Seitenstettengasse synagogue at a city centre area which was busy at the time with people in bars and restaurants the BBC reportedThe victims comprised one woman two men and an attackerAddressing a press briefing early Tuesday morning Interior Minister Karl Nehammer described the heavily armed attacker who was shot dead by the police as an Islamic State IS sympathiserHe added that the attackers home had been searched and video material seizedNehammer urged people to stay away from the centre as police cordoned off some streets and brought in reinforcementsIt was not immediately who was the target of the shootings that came just hours ahead before a national lockdown was to come into effect to stem the spread of the Covid19 pandemicEarlier Nehammer had said at least one heavily armed and dangerous attacker was believed to be still at large but local media reports quoted officials as saying there could have been as many as four attackers the BBC reportedAs a mark of respect the Austrian government has declared three days of mourning from Tuesday with flags to fly at halfmast and a minutes silence at middayAustrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz condemned the shootings saying the incident was a repulsive terror attack adding we are experiencing difficult hours in our republicOur police will act decisively against the perpetrators of this hideous terrorist attack We will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism he saidKurz will address the public after a cabinet video conference on Tuesday morningThe incident has been strongly condemned by European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron who said that Europe must not give up in the face of attacksWhile UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was deeply shocked by the terrible attack European Council President Charles Michel called the incident a cowardly act that violated life and human valuesUS President Donald Trump described it as yet another vile act of terrorism in Europe and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden added We must all stand united against hate and violenceThe Vienna incident comes days after a string of recent terror attacks in FranceOn October 16 middleschool teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded by an 18yearold Muslim immigrant Abdullakh Anzorov inside a school near ParisThen on October 29 Brahim Aouissaoui a 21yearold Tunisian man stabbed three people to death inside the NotreDame basilica in the city of NiceKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever