Pakistan condemns Vienna terrorist attack

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday condemned in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attack in Central Vienna on Monday night, resulting in the loss of precious lives and wounding several more.

“We would like to convey our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the innocent victims and wish speedy recovery to those injured,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

Pakistan reiterated its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, it said.

Gunmen opened fire at multiple locations across central Vienna, killing at least four people in what Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described as a “repulsive terror attack”.

One of the suspected killers, identified as an Islamic State group sympathiser, was shot dead by police who said they were searching for at least one more assailant still at large.

The shooting rampage, in six locations including near a synagogue and the world famous opera house in the heart of Vienna on Monday evening, was carried out by “several suspects armed with rifles”, police said.

Helicopters were flying overhead as police sealed off the city in the hunt for other attackers, while neighbouring countries stepped up border checks.

The shooting erupted just hours before Austria was to re-impose a coronavirus lockdown, with people out in bars and restaurants enjoying a final night out.

It follows a spate of Islamist attacks in France and triggered an outpouring of solidarity from Western leaders including US President Donald Trump.

Two men and two woman were killed in the attack, an interior ministry spokesman said, while about 15 more have been injured, seven seriously. Police also said an officer had been hurt.

The first shots were heard at around 8 pm (1900 GMT) in the city’s centrally located first district.

“It sounded like firecrackers, then we realised it was shots,” said one witness quoted by public broadcaster ORF.

A gunman “shot wildly with an automatic weapon” before police arrived and opened fire, the witness added.

Another spoke of at least 50 shots being fired.