GRAZ, AUSTRIA – In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through Austria, a former student opened fire at a secondary school in Graz, killing ten individuals before taking his own life. The massacre, which occurred on Tuesday, has been described as the deadliest school shooting in the country’s recent history.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reported that the victims included six females and three males, without specifying their ages. Later, Graz Hospital confirmed the death toll had risen to ten. The attack has left the nation in mourning and seeking answers as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.
The shooter, a 21-year-old Austrian, was discovered deceased in a bathroom on the school premises. Police believe he acted alone, entering the school armed with a shotgun and a pistol. Despite finding a farewell letter addressed to his parents, investigators are still trying to determine his motive.
Director General of Public Security Franz Ruf noted that the victims were found scattered across different floors both inside and outside the school. He confirmed the weapons used in the attack were recovered at the scene. Chancellor Christian Stocker, labeling the day as one of Austria’s darkest, expressed his condolences, stating the entire nation shares in the pain and grief.
In response to the tragedy, Stocker traveled to Graz, where he announced a national mourning period of three days. A minute of silence was observed nationwide the following morning at 10 a.m. to honor the victims. Ruf also mentioned that more than 300 police officers were deployed to the scene after gunfire erupted around the same time.
Local reports suggest the shooter targeted students in two classrooms, including one he had previously attended. Allegations of him being a victim of bullying have surfaced, but these remain unconfirmed. Extremism expert Julia Ebner from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue remarked that this tragic event is unprecedented in Austria’s post-war history.
The incident has drawn international attention, with leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressing their shock and solidarity with Austria. The country, known for having a heavily armed civilian population, has faced similar tragedies in the past, including a 2020 shooting spree in Vienna and a 1997 incident in Mauterndorf.