"Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of think tank the Counter Extremism Project, told The National the Vienna attacks were well-planned. The intention of the terrorists, he said, was to exploit the pre-lockdown period to target people gathering on their last night of freedom.

'The attack in Vienna seems to have been fairly well co-ordinated,' he said.

'It took advantage of the large amount of civilians being in bars and restaurants during the last evening before a new national lockdown was taking effect.'

Mr Schindler said the latest incident had all the hallmarks of meticulous preparation, more so than the recent attacks in France."