At least seven people have been killed and several others have been injured from a November 2 shooting nearby a synagogue and Jewish community center in Vienna, Austria.
Arutz Sheva reported that shots were fired outside of Seitenstettengasse Temple, a synagogue that was targeted in Palestinian terror attacks in 1979 and 1981. Amichai Stein, a reporter for the Israeli public broadcasting outlet Kan, tweeted that a terrorist blew himself up with an explosive belt.
#BREAKING: one of the terrorist is said to have blown himself up using an explosive belt – @krone_at https://t.co/KRb7VguYiD
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) November 2, 2020
The temple was reportedly closed at the time of the shooting and the shots have been fired in multiple locations.
NEW: Synagogue in Vienna was closed when gunfire erupted on the street, officials say. Shots have been fired at multiple locations.
— BNO News (@BNONews) November 2, 2020
Avi Mayer, managing director of global communications for the American Jewish Committee (AJC), tweeted that “the Jewish community of Vienna has reportedly been instructed to stay indoors and remove kippot (skullcaps) and other Jewish items” due to the shooting.
The Jewish community of Vienna has reportedly been instructed to stay indoors and remove kippot (skullcaps) and other Jewish items following an attack targeting a synagogue in the city. (Ynet)
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) November 2, 2020
The situation is ongoing.
The AJC tweeted, “We are horrified by reports of multiple shootings at Jewish institutions in Vienna. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Austrian Jewish community at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.”
We are horrified by reports of multiple shootings at Jewish institutions in Vienna. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Austrian Jewish community at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) November 2, 2020
The Anti-Defamation League similarly tweeted, “ADL is aware of the reports of shootings near a synagogue in #Vienna. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and are in touch with the Jewish community on the ground. We are praying for the safety of Vienna at this time.”
ADL is aware of the reports of shootings near a synagogue in #Vienna.
We will continue to monitor this situation closely and are in touch with the Jewish community on the ground.
We are praying for the safety of Vienna at this time. https://t.co/oWXAoLbdUa— ADL (@ADL) November 2, 2020
This is a developing story.
