Islamist Terrorist Carried Out Terror Attack Near Synagogue In Vienna, Reveals Austrian Minister

At least one Islamist terrorist - a sympathiser of ISIS, carried out the terror attack near a Synagogue in Vienna, Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer has revealed.

"We experienced an attack yesterday evening from at least one Islamist terrorist", Nehammer has been quoted by Reuters as saying.

At least two people were killed and 14 others injured in shootings in the Austrian capital of Vienna, just hours before a national lockdown was to come into force against the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities said on Tuesday.

According to the police, the shootings took place in six different locations at about 8 p.m. on Monday, near the Seitenstettengasse synagogue, when a suspect, armed with an automatic rifle, a pistol and a machete, opened fire on people outside bars and restaurants which have now been closed until the end of this month as per the new lockdown rules.

Members of the special forces arrived at the scene shortly, and managed to shoot the perpetrator.

It was not immediately clear how many attackers were involved in the shooting, but the Interior Ministry said that the police were searching for at least one suspect, who is absconding.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz confirmed that one gunman was killed in the "repulsive terror attack", but did not provide any other details.

"We are experiencing difficult hours in our republic", the BBC quoted Kurz as saying on Twitter, adding that the army would take over the security of major buildings in Vienna.

"Our police will act decisively against the perpetrators of this hideous terrorist attack. We will never allow ourselves to be intimidated by terrorism," he said.

With Inputs From IANS