"We are on the side of Austria," reacted Charles Michel, President of the European Council on Monday evening, a few hours after the attack in Vienna.
Shootings broke out in the center of the Austrian capital and left at least two dead, including an assailant, police said.
It is about a "probable terrorist attack", specified the Minister of the Interior, Karl Nehammer.
“Europe strongly condemns this cowardly act which violates life and our human values.
My thoughts are with the victims and the people of Vienna following tonight's horrific attack, ”Charles Michel tweeted.
Europe strongly condemns this cowardly act that violates life and our human values.
My thoughts are with the victims and the people of #Vienna in the wake of tonight's horrific attack.
We stand with Austria @sebastiankurz
- Charles Michel (@eucopresident) November 2, 2020
The shootings occurred in the early evening, a few hours before the entry into force of a containment of Austria to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several perpetrators are involved, said Karl Nehammer, adding that the shootings were still in progress in the evening.
One of the attackers was reportedly shot dead by the police, who intervened quickly on the scene and one of the members was injured.
"Our enemies must know who they are dealing with"
“We French share the shock and grief of the Austrian people struck this evening by an attack in the heart of their capital, Vienna.
After France, a friendly country is attacked.
This is our Europe, ”said Emmanuel Macron.
The attack comes a few days after the attack on the Notre-Dame basilica in Nice on October 29, which left three people dead.
We French share the shock and grief of the Austrian people struck this evening by an attack in the heart of their capital, Vienna.
After France, a friendly country is attacked.
This is our Europe.
Our enemies must know who they are dealing with.
We will not give up.
- Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 2, 2020
“Our enemies need to know who they are dealing with.
We will not give up anything, ”added the French head of state.
The Elysee said that Emmanuel Macron had spoken in the evening with the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, to whom he "expressed his total solidarity, his support and offered the assistance of France if necessary".
“We must not give in to the hatred that seeks to divide our societies,” the German Foreign Ministry tweeted.
"Even if the extent of the terrorist acts is not yet determined, our thoughts are with the wounded and the victims in these difficult times", wrote the ministry referring to "appalling and disturbing news" coming from Vienna.
Erschreckende, verstörende Meldungen erreichen uns heute Abend aus # Wien.Auch wenn das Ausmaß des Terrors noch nicht absehbar ist: unsere Gedanken sind bei den Verletzten & Opfern in diesen schweren Stunden.
Wir dürfen nicht dem Hass weichen, der unsere Gesellschaften spalten soll.
- Auswärtiges Amt (@AuswaertigesAmt) November 2, 2020
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz thanked “the leaders of the European Union” and “international partners for their sympathy and expressions of solidarity”.
“We are going through difficult times in our republic,” he said on Twitter.
“Our police will act decisively against the perpetrators of this hideous terrorist attack.
"
Wir erleben gerade schwere Stunden in unserer Republik.
Ich möchte allen Einsatzkräften danken, die insbesondere heute für unsere Sicherheit ihr Leben riskieren.
Unsere Polizei wird entschlossen gegen die Täter dieses widerwärtigen Terroranschlags vorgehen.
- Sebastian Kurz (@sebastiankurz) November 2, 2020