Police manhunting after "Terrorist Attack" in Vienna, Austria

Police in Austria has begun a manhunt after gunmen initiated fire at various locations across central Vienna, killing at least four people and injuring various more in what Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz expressed as an “aggressive terror attack”.

“Grievously a fourth victim has died in a Vienna hospital, this makes the death toll to two men and two women,” an interior ministry spokesperson stated.

One of the speculated gunmen recognised as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) organisation supporter, was shot lifeless by police who stated they were hunting for at least one more attacker still at large.

Officials announced the dead attacker was a 20-year-old Austrian-North Macedonian dual national who had a past terror punishment.

Vienna’s hospital service announced seven people were in extremely critical condition Tuesday after the shooting in the centre of the city. In entirety, 17 people – including a police officer – were being operated in hospitals, with gunshot injuries but also cuts.

“It is now established that yesterday’s shooting was certainly an Islamist terror attack,” Kurz announced. “It was an offence out of hatred – disgust for our primary values, dislike for our way of life, hate for our democracy in which all characters have similar rights and honour.”

The attacks, in six neighbourhoods including near a synagogue in the middle of the city, were brought out by “several suspects outfitted with rifles”, police announced on Monday night.

Officials are still trying to decide whether additional criminals may be on the run.

Interior Minister Karl Nehammer stated that the dead assailant, who had origins in the Balkan state of North Macedonia, had a prior sentence under legislation that punishes membership in “terrorist” organisations.

The attacker, identified as Kujtim Fejzulai, was convicted to 22 months in jail in April 2019 because he had attempted to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group. He was acceded early release in December under juvenile law.