After gunmen opened fire at six different locations in the city centre on Monday evening, seventeen people were wounded – some seriously injured and receiving treatment.
Officials said, one attacker was shot dead by police. Interior Minister, Karl Nehammer described the assailant killed by police as an “Islamist terrorist”.
Two men and two women were among the killed, the women was reportedly working as a waitress, the second women succumbed to her injuries later at the hospital, overnight.
At Seitenstettengasse synagogue, around 20:00 (19:00 GMT) a heavily armed man opened fire on people outside cafes and restaurants, according to Police officials.
One policeman was shot and critically wounded before the perpetrator as members of the special forces quickly arrived at the scene. The armed with an automatic rifle, a pistol and a machete, was, in the chief’s words, “neutralised” at 20:09 (19:09 GMT)
The victims were in a city centre area busy with people in bars and restaurants, near Vienna’s central synagogue, but it is not yet clear if that was the target.
Hours before Austria imposed new national restrictions to curb rising cases of corona virus. Many people were enjoying drinks and eating out before a midnight curfew. 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.
People are asked to stay away from the streets, as police cordoned off some streets and brought in reinforcements. Parents were told to keep their children home on Tuesday if they could. Seven of the wounded have life-threatening injuries, Austrian media report.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called it a “repulsive terror attack”. The government called it “an attack on freedom and democracy”.