#0211W – Vienna Terror Attack 

A balmy evening, the last night before a new lockdown, lots of people enjoying themselves in the streets, bars, and restaurants of the inner city before they have to close for the entire month of November. ⁠ ⁠

At 8.00 pm the first incoming emergency calls reported shots being fired in the city. More than 20 people were injured, 4 of them died. The terrorist carried an illegally obtained full-auto rifle, a pistol, and a machete. He had already served a prison sentence for participation in the terrorist organization IS.

At 8.09 pm he was neutralized by Austrian Police forces. ⁠ ⁠
9 minutes. ⁠540 seconds.
Every additional minute would have cost more lives.⁠ ⁠

First responders

Quick reaction can only be ensured through sufficient staff & vehicle numbers, excellent, continuous training, and high-quality gear. Quick reaction saves lives. Terrorist attacks in many countries have shown that a well trained, well-equipped police force / military are crucial for the safety of the public. ⁠ ⁠Yet there are politicians who want to defund and disarm the police. In the aftermath of a terror attack, we can only hope that these dangerous ideas do not prevail and are replaced with more sensible, realistic attitudes.

Thoughts & prayers are lovely, words are comforting – but action is what is needed. The action of well-trained men & women with reliable gear and superior firepower. It is to those brave first responders that we extend our deepest gratitude – thank you for risking your lives to protect the public, thank you for keeping yourself in shape, training hard, and enduring the physical and mental strains of your profession – #thankyouforyourservice

Prepare & train

More than ever, we are shown the importance of acquiring self-defense and first aid skills. Bad things can happen at any given time and any little bit of personal preparation helps.
The most pressing question is „How well prepared am I? Do I know how to stop excessive bleeding, provide first aid, do I carry a tourniquet? Am I able to stay calm and capable of action?“
It is better to have these skills and not need them, than to need them and not have them. That is the motivation behind our training and ultimately what started this blog.

Our personal experience

As for us personally, we spent the last evening before the lockdown in an underground IPSC shooting range in Vienna (we will post pictures soon). When we reemerged to the surface we heard sirens everywhere and we quickly got an idea about the situation through messages & chat groups.⁠ We carefully made our way home, police cars and ambulances rushing past us all the time. We live close to the inner city so we could hear the helicopters and sirens all night.
We had made it home safely – our hearts are with those who didn’t. ⁠
And our gratitude is with those who fight to keep us safe 🙏

Bild 2: Polizei im Bild