We have seen an attack by at least one Islamist terrorist: Austrian Minister

Karl Nehammer, Federal Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Austria, has confirmed the involvement of one Islamist terrorist in the shootout that left four dead and about a dozen injured till now in a terror attack at the center of the capital.

On Monday, in the late evening around 8 PM, a shooting started near Vienna's main synagogue at the people who had gathered at restaurants and bars to enjoy their time just before a lockdown was supposed to be imposed from the next day.

It is suspected that more than four terrorists were involved in the shooting and a search operation is going on.

Nehammer, in a series of tweets, has said that during these difficult hours, "my thoughts are with the victims and their families. We have seen an attack by at least one Islamist terrorist."

"We have been a strong & grown democracy for 75 years. Yesterday's attack is an attack on our values ​​& a totally unsuitable attempt to weaken our democratic society," He tweeted.

He added, "The perpetrator was armed with an explosives belt, which turned out to be a dummy, and an assault rifle. He was a sympathizer of the IS terrorist militia. There are currently extensive investigations into the perpetrator's environment."

Nehammer has requested the people of Vienna to "Please stay at home if you can. Please avoid the city center. There is no compulsory schooling in Vienna today, if possible please look after your children at home."