Leaders in Europe and around the world condemn Vienna attacks as Austrian police continue the manhunt for suspects.
Gunmen opened fire in six locations across central Vienna on Monday night, in an attack that left at least three dead – including one of the assailants – and some 15 people wounded.
The motive for the shootings, which began near the Austrian capital’s main synagogue, was not clear, but Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described the shootings as a “repulsive terror attack” and said the gunmen were “very well equipped with automatic weapons” and had “prepared professionally”.
Leaders in Europe and elsewhere took to social media to condemn the attack and express solidarity with Austria.
Here is a round-up of their reactions.
France
President Emmanuel Macron of France, which has experienced two serious attacks in recent weeks, tweeted that “we French share the shock and sorrow of the Austrian people”.
Germany
The German foreign ministry called the attacks “terrifying and disturbing”.
“We don’t know the full extent of the terror yet, our thoughts are with the injured and victims at this difficult time,” the ministry said in a tweet. “We will not give way to hatred which is aimed at dividing our societies.”
United Kingdom
Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, said he was “deeply shocked by the terrible attacks” in Vienna.
“We stand united with you against terror,” he said in a tweet.
European Union
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, called the attack a “cowardly act” that “violates life and our human values”.
“We stand with Austria,” he said in a tweet.
Italy
Giuseppe Conte, the president of Italy, also “strongly condemned” the shootings.
“There is no room for hatred and violence in our common European home,” he said on Twitter in Italian and German.
Netherlands
Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, expressed solidarity in a tweet.
Source: aljazeera.com
