Pakistan condemns heinous Vienna terrorist attack

The Pakistan Daily November 3, 2020

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ISLAMABAD: The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack in Vienna which has claimed 3 lives so far.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack in Central Vienna on Monday night, resulting in loss of precious lives & wounding many more,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Twitter.

#Pakistan strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack in Central #Vienna on Monday night,resulting in loss of precious lives & wounding many more.

We extend our deepest condolences & sympathies to families of victims & wish speedy recovery to those injured.1/2@MFA_Austria
— Spokesperson ?? MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) November 3, 2020

#Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. 2/2
— Spokesperson ?? MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) November 3, 2020

‘Suspects armed with rifles’

Late last night, a gunfire incident left at least two people, including an attacker, dead in central Vienna, with police saying the injured included an officer. Vienna police said that the suspects were still at large and advised citizens to stay indoors.

The attack was carried out by “several suspects armed with rifles”, and police added that there had been “six different shooting locations”.

There is a larger police operation going on in the 1st district of Vienna (Inner City area). Officers are on site and check the Situation. We keep you posted on the matter.
— POLIZEI WIEN (@LPDWien) November 2, 2020

Gunshots were fired at around 8pm local time (1900 GMT), beginning at the Seitenstettengasse in the city’s centrally-located first district.

The shooting began just hours before Austria was to reimpose a fresh lockdown to try to slow the spread of coronavirus, with restaurants and bars packed as people enjoyed a final night of relative freedom.

Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer told public broadcaster ORF that the incident “appeared to be a terrorist attack” and urged Viennese to remain in their homes.

‘Immediate vicinity’ of Stadttempel synagogue

Nehammer repeated police appeals to residents to keep away from all public places or public transport, as frequent sirens and helicopters could be heard in the city centre as emergency services responded to the incident.

An AFP photographer said large numbers of police were guarding an area near the city’s world-famous opera house.

The president of Vienna’s Jewish community Oskar Deutsch said shots were fired “in the immediate vicinity” of the Stadttempel synagogue but added that it was currently unknown whether the worship place itself had been the target of an attack.

The synagogue and office buildings at the same address had been closed at the time of the attack, he added.