Austrian police are searching for at least one suspect after a multiple gun attack in the capital, Vienna, that killed four people.
Seventeen other people were wounded, some seriously, after gunmen opened fire at six different locations in the city centre on Monday evening.
Police have confirmed that one of the attackers was shot dead by police.
Austria’s interior minister told state broadcaster ORF TV the attack is believed to have been carried out by multiple people.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said: “At the moment I can confirm we believe this is an apparent terror attack.
“We believe there are several perpetrators.”
“Unfortunately, there are also several injured, probably also dead.”
ORF TV broadcaster said 15 people were being treated in hospitals in the city, including seven who have serious injuries.
Addressing a news conference, Mr Nehammer described the heavily armed gunman killed by police as an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser.
His home had been searched and video material seized, the minister said. He had been wearing a fake explosive belt, police tweeted.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called it a “repulsive terror attack”. The government called it “an attack on freedom and democracy”.
The government has announced three days of national mourning, starting immediately, with flags to fly at half-mast and a minute’s silence at midday. Schools will also have a minute’s silence for the victims on Wednesday morning.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the nation’s “thoughts are with the people of Austria – we stand united with you against terror” while Home Secretary Priti Patel said, “We stand ready to support in any way we can”.
US President Donald Trump described it as “yet another vile act of terrorism in Europe”.
“These evil attacks against innocent people must stop. The US stands with Austria, France, and all of Europe in the fight against terrorists,” he tweeted.
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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