Vienna: Monks assaulted in Church, look out for culprits underway

Five monks were assaulted in a Church here, out of which one is reported to be critical. The monks were held captive in the church, where they were tied up and gagged.

According to Euronews, a manhunt has been launched by the Police and a helicopter has been deployed in the area. Public transport controls are also looking for the two suspects, who are reportedly absconding.

According to Vienna police spokesperson Harald Soros, the suspects raided the Maria Immaculata Church and one of the suspects carried a gun.

Police wrote in the statement that the assaulters told a 68-year-old monk to lie on the floor where they punched, kicked and hit him with "tools", causing "severe head injuries".

The victims were taken to nearby hospitals. The motive for the attack is yet to be ascertained known, but terrorism had been ruled out, police wrote on Twitter.

One of the perpetrators was thought to have "demanded valuables and cash," it added.

"It's really open right now it could be anything from maybe a robbery. One gunman threatened one of the brothers that live in the church with a gun. One man was carrying a gun, he just used the gun to threaten the first victim. He never shot the gun, no fires were heard," Euronews quoted Soros as saying.

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