Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig unveils the memorial stone for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Vienna
VIENNA, Feb 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) – In the presence of the Vienna city government, Mayor Michael Ludwig unveiled a memorial stone for the victims of the night of terror on Nov 2, 2020 at Desider-Friedmann-Platz Tuesday.
The attack on the evening before the start of the lockdown resulted in four deaths and more than 20, some seriously injured.
The heads of the Vienna State Parliament and City Council, Ernst Woller and Thomas Reindl, as well as the district chairman of the inner city, Markus Figl and the district chairwoman’s deputy Lucia Grabetz also took part in the unveiling of the memorial stone in the first district.
“ The terrorist attack left a scar in our city. However, the terrible event that night also brought about great solidarity and great commitment for other people. In my opinion, this togetherness and sticking together is something typical of our city, which is particularly evident in times of crisis.
“This memorial stone will not only remember the victims of the attack – whose bereaved relatives I express my deepest condolences for their great loss – but will also emphasize the cooperation against terror and every form of radicalism. We won’t let the assassins and terrorists bring us to our knees – that’s one of our city’s strengths, ”said Ludwig.
City Councilor for Culture Kaup-Hasler presented the text “Lacrimosa for November 2, 2020”, written especially for the occasion, by the Austrian writer Monika Helfer.
The stone unveiled by Mayor Ludwig bears the inscription “In memory of the victims of the terrorist attack of November 2, 2020” in German and English as well as the coat of arms of the city of Vienna.
The festive event was framed by a wind quartet from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, which performed two chorales by Anton Bruckner and Johann Sebastian Bach.
On the fateful day, a 20-year-old gunman, described by Austrian authorities as an “Islamist terrorist”, killed four people and wounded more than 20 others.
The shootings began at 20:00. It was a warm evening, and lots of people were enjoying a final night out before a second coronavirus lockdown began in Austria.
For nine terrifying minutes, the gunman ran through the streets firing into bars and restaurants, before the police shot him dead.
The authorities say the wounded included people from Austria, a Swiss-German woman, a Bosnian, two Slovaks, and a woman from China, as well as a man from Luxembourg, an Afghan and three Germans.
Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said the gunman had been born in Vienna to parents who also came from North Macedonia.
The gunman had already served a prison sentence for trying to go to Syria to join Daesh group, but he was released early because of his youth.
Austria’s Islamic community has strongly condemned the shooting. — NNN-AGENCIES
