Two Austrian youngsters of Turkish descent have been praised for their swift action during the terrorist attack that took place in Vienna this week. Mikail Ozen and Recep Tayyip Gultekin risked their lives to help an injured police officer. "We couldn't look away."
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Vienna, which killed at least four people, numerous images appeared on social media yesterday.
One of the fragments shows how two boys help passers-by to find shelter, while gunshots are heard. Moments later, they lift an injured police officer into an ambulance, while the firearms fight has not stopped.
The Austrian Minister of Internal Affairs already praised the heroic act of the youngsters yesterday, without mentioning their names. It turns out to be Mikail Ozen and Recep Tayyip Gultekin, two Austrian MMA fighters of Turkish origin. The Turkish ambassador to Vienna, Ozan Ceyhun, has thanked them for the heroic act.
"We could not look away when we saw the injured police officer," said Ozen. The two were in central Vienna to 'have a last cup of coffee' before Austria went into lockdown. In a busy square they found several people covered in blood on the ground, Ozen recalls.
As the gunshots continued, the two helped move people to shelter. Ozen and Gultekin then sprinted to the injured police officer and took him to an ambulance. That police officer previously tried to oppose the shooter but was shot and injured in the process. He was operated successfully in the hospital.
The two semi-professional MMA fighters made an appeal the day after the attack: "Jews, Christians and Muslims must be able to live in unity here," they said. That call was taken up by many Austrian media. "We are Muslims of Turkish descent," said the two. "We hate any form of terrorism. We respect Austria."
According to Turkish media, the two received a telephone from Turkish President Erdogan. He would have thanked and congratulated them.
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Vienna, which killed at least four people, numerous images appeared on social media yesterday.
One of the fragments shows how two boys help passers-by to find shelter, while gunshots are heard. Moments later, they lift an injured police officer into an ambulance, while the firearms fight has not stopped.
The Austrian Minister of Internal Affairs already praised the heroic act of the youngsters yesterday, without mentioning their names. It turns out to be Mikail Ozen and Recep Tayyip Gultekin, two Austrian MMA fighters of Turkish origin. The Turkish ambassador to Vienna, Ozan Ceyhun, has thanked them for the heroic act.
"We could not look away when we saw the injured police officer," said Ozen. The two were in central Vienna to 'have a last cup of coffee' before Austria went into lockdown. In a busy square they found several people covered in blood on the ground, Ozen recalls.
As the gunshots continued, the two helped move people to shelter. Ozen and Gultekin then sprinted to the injured police officer and took him to an ambulance. That police officer previously tried to oppose the shooter but was shot and injured in the process. He was operated successfully in the hospital.
The two semi-professional MMA fighters made an appeal the day after the attack: "Jews, Christians and Muslims must be able to live in unity here," they said. That call was taken up by many Austrian media. "We are Muslims of Turkish descent," said the two. "We hate any form of terrorism. We respect Austria."
According to Turkish media, the two received a telephone from Turkish President Erdogan. He would have thanked and congratulated them.
