Austrian police arrest 14 in wake of killings
VIENNA: Austrian police raided 18 properties and arrested 14 people in a massive manhunt yesterday for possible accomplices of a convicted jihadist who shot dead four people and injured 22 others in a latenight rampage in the centre of Vienna.
The gunman, who was killed by police minutes after opening fire on crowded bars on Monday night (local time), had been released from jail less than a year ago. He was identified as Kujtim Fejzulai, a 20yearold Austrian who also held North Macedonian nationality.
It was the first such militant attack in Vienna in a generation, and the Government pledged to take robust action.
‘‘We will defend our fundamental values, our way of life and our democracy with all our strength,’’
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said in a national address about what he branded an Islamist terror attack.
‘‘We will find and hunt down the perpetrators, those behind this and their associates, and mete out a just sentence.’’
Swiss police also arrested two men yesterday near Zurich in an investigation of possible links to the gunman.
Speaking later to broadcaster ORF, Kurz urged European nations to take more decisive action against terrorism.
‘‘We must give everyone who wants to integrate the chance to integrate, but we must at the same time make clear that our basic values are not negotiable,’’ he said.
The attack followed recent deadly assaults by lone Islamist attackers in Nice and Paris.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack without providing evidence, the group’s Amaq News Agency said on Telegram.
An elderly man and woman, a young passerby and a waitress were killed in the attack, Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said. A German woman was also killed, Germany Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.
Vienna’s mayor said three people were still in critical condition. — Reuters