Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Terror on The street
Footage shows Vienna gunman’s chilling attack UK threat level raised to ‘severe’ after rampage
ARMED with an automatic rifle, a pistol and a machete, the Vienna terror attacker prowls a street and finds a victim.
Horrific CCTV footage shows moments later, the gunman shot the passer-by at point-blank range.
The terrorist Kujtim Fejzulai, 20 – who killed four people in the Austrian capital and injured 22 others including a police officer – was released early from prison in December after being jailed in April last year for 22 months for trying to join Islamic State.
The UK yesterday raised the terror threat l evel here from substantial to severe in light of the recent terror attacks in Europe.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the British people should be “alert but not alarmed”. Bullet holes from Fejzulai’s rampage could yesterday be seen through th h glass l doors, d and d pavements were stained with blood.
As he started spraying bullets, heroic locals barricaded hundreds of drinkers in bars and restaurants. Sunil Dutt, the boss of Castelletto restaurant, t t saw Fj Fejzulai l i fi firing i wildly, ildl and said had police not chased him away 200 people would have died.
Sunil said: “I looked out and saw him, with people running for their lives. One bullet went into our wi window, then police chased him off.
““He was heading in the direction of around 200 people who had been lea leaving bars. He would have killed the them all. He wasn’t really aiming, he w was spraying bullets everywhere.
“I brought about 100 people inside. We stayed in the basement until midnight, before it was safe for them to leave.
“I saw the police officer get sh shot... I still haven’t been home – I sta stayed all night with my colleagues.”
T The police officer was last night sai said to be in a stable condition.
S Seven people were understood to be in a critical condition. Goks Oz, who runs the Max and Benito cafe,
shielded around 30 people as gunfire echoed outside.
He ushered terrified onlookers upstairs, locked the doors, turned off the lights and they waited in silence for the horror to pass.
He said: “I saw about 20 people running away after hearing what sounded like fireworks.
“Two girls came in terrified. I put them upstairs with some customers and then got some more people inside before locking the doors. It was terrifying. ”
Fejzulai, who had Austrian and North Macedonian citizenship, posed with the weapons on social media before the rampage. He also pledged allegiance to IS.
He began the attack at 8pm on Monday near the central synagogue. He killed an elderly man and woman , a young male passer-by and a waitress. The authorities said he was shot dead by police within nine minutes of starting his gun spree.
At least 14 people in the perpetrator’s circle have been arrested and were being interrogated last night.
While, two Swiss men, aged 18 and 24, were held near Zurich.
Austrian authorities belie ve Fejzulai went on the rampage alone.
He was reportedly born in Mödling near Vienna, the son of a gardener and a retail saleswoman. It is understood Fejzulai was released early from prison after taking part in a deradicalisation programme.
There was a huge police presence in Vienna last night. Cordons were finally lifted at around 5pm.
Austrian interior minister Karl Nehammer said: “Austria is a democracy, shap ed by free speech, tolerance...
“The attack is an attack of these values. We will not stand for this. There will be consequences.”