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Austria declares three days of mourning; dead gunman has criminal contact record with IS
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The Austrian government declared on Tuesday a three-day national mourning after a deadly terror attack that left at least four people and one perpetrator dead in the capital on Monday evening.
Starting on Tuesday, flags have been lowered to half-mast on public buildings across the country, according to a government statement.
In addition, a “minute of silent remembrance” should be observed on Tuesday at 12 noon (1100 GMT). Schools should also observe a minute’s silence at the beginning of lessons on Wednesday. A wreath-laying ceremony is planned in downtown Vienna.
“The Republic of Austria was, is and will always be a nation of diversity, dialogue and respect for one another, the more the events of November 2, 2020 have shaken and affected our country,” said the government statement.
On Monday evening, at around 8:00 p.m. (1900 GMT), a terrorist attack took place in Vienna’s inner city when gunmen opened fire on people enjoying a last-night out at Vienna’s cafes and restaurants before a coronavirus lockdown starting early Tuesday.
At least four civilians — two men and two women — were confirmed dead in the attack, according to an Austrian interior ministry spokesman. Seventeen others were injured, seven of whom are in life-threatening condition.
Chinese victims
The Chinese Embassy in Austria said Tuesday that a Chinese Austrian was killed and a Chinese citizen injured in the terrorist attack.
The Chinese Austrian, owner of a restaurant in downtown Vienna, was badly injured in the attack and died on Tuesday morning, said the embassy. The wounded Chinese citizen, who works at the same restaurant, is in stable condition, it added.
CRIMINAL CONTACT RECORD
During Monday evening’s attack, one perpetrator was shot dead by police. He was identified as 20-year-old Islamist Fejzulai Kujtim, who had a criminal record related to contact with the Islamic State (IS), Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Kujtim was sentenced to 22 months in prison on April 25, 2019, for attempting to travel to Syria to join IS and was released early on parole, local media reported.
Kujtim was equipped with “a dummy explosive belt and an automatic long gun, a handgun, and a machete to carry out this hideous attack on innocent citizens,” Nehammer said.
Extensive large raids have already taken place in the vicinity of the perpetrator, with 15 houses searched and several people arrested, Nehammer added.