Europe fights two-front battle against COVID-19, terrorist attacks

Flags flown at half-staff on public buildings and citizens gathering to observe a “minute of silent remembrance,” Tuesday, the first day of a three-day national mourning for the victims of a terror attack in Vienna on Monday night, is a day of shock, fear and sadness for the Austrians.

Monday night’s attack in Vienna’s inner city killed at least four people. The attacker was shot dead by the police, and further details of the attack are still under investigation.
Tuesday is also the first day of a lockdown in Austria. The country, together with Greece, are the latest countries on the continent to impose shutdowns as Europe passed a grim milestone after reporting more than 11 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Austria’s pain was also felt by almost all European countries across the continent, which offers a glimpse of what the whole Europe is fighting — a war on two fronts: terror attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

TERROR ATTACKS RINGING ALARM

The blue European Union (EU) flags were also seen flying at half-mast at major EU institutions in Brussels late on Tuesday, in memory of the victims of recent deadly attacks in Austria and France.

“All of Europe stands united in our fight against terrorism. Attacks against our fundamental values will never divide us,”

European Council President Charles Michel said in a Twitter post with a photo showing flags flown at the council.

Other European leaders also condemned the attack. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “deeply shocked by the terrible attacks.”

“The fight against these murderers and their instigators is our common fight,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz condemned the attack as a “hate attack.” “But we must always be aware that this is not a dispute between Christians and Muslims or between Austrians and migrants. This is a struggle between the many people who believe in peace and the few who want war,” Kurz tweeted earlier on Tuesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday evening that

the French shares the shock and sorrow of the Austrian people.

“After France, it is a friendly country that is attacked. This is our Europe. Our enemies must know who they are dealing with. We will not give in,” said Macron on Twitter.
Macron was referring to the attacks France has suffered recently. Last week, three people died in a knife attack in Nice. Two weeks earlier, a teacher was brutally murdered in Paris after a free speech lesson.

Following the Vienna attack, many countries declared reinforcement of security.
Britain on Tuesday raised its terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe,” meaning an attack is highly likely.

In Denmark, the Czech Republic, and many other countries, police have increased their security patrols in streets and around important institutions.

France has raised its national attack alert to “emergency,” the highest level of its terrorism vigilance system since last week. Authorities have ordered increased surveillance and security at churches and schools.