In the city of Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, a horrifying incident unfolded on Tuesday when a former student opened fire at a local school, tragically resulting in the death of 10 individuals, and injuring 12 others. Authorities confirmed the gunman took his own life following the attack. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old male, is reported to have no previous criminal history, and the firearms used in the incident were legally owned, according to the police.
The reason behind this devastating attack remains unclear, and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker expressed profound sorrow over the event, deeming it a “national tragedy.” He announced a three-day national mourning period, during which flags at official buildings will be lowered to half-staff. A national moment of silence is scheduled to take place on Wednesday morning to honor the memories of those who lost their lives.
Prompt action was taken by law enforcement, with special forces being deployed to the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school, located approximately a kilometer from Graz’s historic center, in response to reports of gunfire at around 10 a.m. Over 300 police officers swiftly arrived at the scene, leading to the school’s evacuation. Video footage captured students being escorted out by armed officers, and police confirmed that security was re-established within 17 minutes.
The shooter, an Austrian national residing near Graz, acted alone, as confirmed by the police, who have not disclosed his identity. Regional police chief Gerald Ortner reported that two firearms – a long gun and a handgun – were involved in the attack and have since been retrieved from the crime scene. The assailant was found deceased in a bathroom.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner revealed that the gunman had previously attended the school but had not completed his education there, although further details regarding his time at the school have not been elucidated. On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that of the nine victims initially killed, six were female and three were male; later, the death of a tenth victim, an adult female, was confirmed by the state hospital in Graz.
Austria’s Red Cross responded by sending 65 ambulances and deploying 158 emergency personnel to aid the wounded. Furthermore, 40 specially trained psychologists were available to provide support to students and their families. The public was urged to donate blood to assist those affected.
Witnesses describe the chaos and aftermath, with Metin Özden, a local kebab shop owner, recounting the overwhelming presence of emergency services as they arrived on the scene. He observed many distressed parents making their way towards the school.
This tragic event is considered the deadliest in Austria’s post-World War II era. In recent history, Austria had experienced another severe attack in 2020 when four people were shot and killed in Vienna by a suspect with ties to the Islamic State group. Prior to that, in 2015, a vehicle attack in Graz resulted in three fatalities and injured over 30 people.
In Austria, there is a longstanding tradition of hunting which influences its permissive gun laws within the European Union. While certain firearms are accessible to those aged 18 and over without a permit, more restrictive acquisition processes apply to repeating shotguns and semi-automatic firearms, necessitating a gun ownership card and firearms pass.