A year after the terrorist attack in downtown Vienna, Austria remembered the victims.
A 20-year-old IS supporter killed four people and injured more than 20 in a busy nightlife district on November 2, 2020 before he was shot by police a few minutes later.
“It is the day on which terror has also shown its grimace in Austria. It must, it will not succeed in dividing us,” said Austria’s Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg at the official commemoration in the Ruprechtskirche.
The attack occurred very close to the church. The memorial ceremony was musically accompanied by the musicians of the group “Weil ma Glaubn”. At the time of the deed they had rehearsed in the Ruprechtskirche. The perpetrator was shot dead by emergency services at Ruprechtsplatz.
Criticism of the security authorities
President Alexander Van der Bellen said to the sympathizers and supporters of the perpetrator: “Look closely, see what you have done. You cannot hide behind an ideology, nobody can. In the end it remains cold murder . And in the end you will be held responsible for it. “
After the attack, the Austrian security authorities were accused of negligence. The authorities knew that the perpetrator was a radical Islamist who was prepared to use violence.
The man with an Austrian and North Macedonian passport is said to have acted alone, but had numerous supporters. Victims’ representatives had filed lawsuits over investigative misconduct. At their pressure, a compensation fund of 2.2 million euros was set up.
Gudrun. Nedjip. Qiang. Vanessa.
The Federal President named the four fatalities by their first names, but also remembered the many who had been physically or psychologically injured in the attack.
Van der Bellen thanked the police officers, especially the officer who had been injured during the operation, as well as his rescuer, a native Palestinian.
Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig had also mentioned the civil chourage that night at a wreath-laying ceremony that morning in the presence of many relatives.
“There was also a lot of solidarity that night. Solidarity in our city, practiced by people who happened to be here – helped them to get out of the danger zone, out of the hail of bullets. Regardless of their own life or health, they have others helped, “said Ludwig.
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