‘Seven dead and several injured near Vienna synagogue’: Huge manhunt underway as gunman rampages through streets and ‘accomplice blows themselves up’
At least seven people are thought to have been killed with several others injured in a suspected gun and suicide attack near a synagogue in Vienna.
A huge manhunt is underway for the gunman, according to local reports, with an accomplice thought to have ‘blown themselves up’ during the rampage.
Kronen Zeitung, Austria’s largest newspaper, is reporting the incident as a terror attack, with a police officer said to have been shot and left in a critical condition.
Though Vienna police have yet to officially confirm the nature of the incident, they are ordering the public to stay away from the city centre and public transport.
Oskar Deutsch, the head of the Jewish community in Vienna, said the shooting took place in the street where the city’s main synagogue is located but that it wasn’t clear whether the house of worship had been targeted.
The synagogue was already closed at the time of the shooting, Deutsch tweeted. A neighbouring restaurant was also closed.
Shocking social media footage believed to be taken near the scene showing people ducking and weaving as they run for cover, with shots ringing out.
A man carrying an assault rifle and believed to be the gunman who carried out the rampage in Vienna on Monday evening
An Austrian policeman overlooks an area in Vienna after a shooting in the city centre. Multiple gunshots were fired in central Vienna on Monday evening, police said, while media reported that there had been an attack close to a synagogue
Polce block a street near Schwedenplatz square after a shooting in Vienna, Austria this evening, with at least one person dead
Shocking footage believed to be taken near the scene showing people ducking and weaving as they run for cover, with shots ringing out
Austrian journalist Thomas Mayar, citing the Ministry of the Interior, said: ‘One dead and several injured in an attack on the synagogue in Seitenstettengasse in the center of Vienna, says the Ministry of the Interior. Large-scale police operation. Stay in the houses. Shots on Schwedenplatz.’
Austrian public broadcaster ORF cited witnesses saying several shots were fired shortly after 7pm.
Another Austrian newspaper reported that the attack was on the street that houses the city’s main synagogue.
Vienna Police tweeted: ‘Around #InnnerenStadt there were several exchanges of fire. There are several injured people. We are on duty with all possible forces. Please avoid all public places in the city.’
More to follow