In Graz, Austria, a former student orchestrated a meticulously detailed attack at a local high school, resulting in the deaths of nine students and a teacher before ending his own life. The motive behind the attack remains unclear as authorities continue their investigation. The 21-year-old involved had previously attended the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school but left three years ago without completing his studies. It is reported that he had no known personal connections to the students targeted, although one of the two teachers he shot had taught him before, prompting investigators to consider any potential relevance.
The tragic event led to a declaration of national mourning for three days across Austria. In Graz, the public has shown an outpouring of grief, with numerous candles placed in the city’s main square and outside the school in honor of the victims.
Equipped with a Mercury double-barreled shotgun and a Glock 19 handgun, the attacker, whose identity has been withheld, was an Austrian resident living with his mother. On the morning of the attack, he brought a backpack containing these weapons to the school. Before commencing the attack, he donned protective eyewear and hearing protection in a bathroom, preparing for a seven-minute duration of chaos, according to Michael Lohnegger, head of Styria province’s criminal police office.
The shooter fired indiscriminately on the school’s third floor and then forced open a locked classroom door on the fourth floor to continue his rampage. Despite carrying enough ammunition to prolong the shooting, his motives for pausing are unknown. Consequently, he returned to the bathroom and fatally shot himself.
During their investigation, authorities found a farewell message and video at the attacker’s residence. This content conveyed an apology to his family and expressions of gratitude, yet failed to provide any discernible motive. Additionally, they discovered a handwritten note that outlined his movement in detailed steps but did not specify an intended date for the attack. The note also hinted at his failed attempt to construct a functional pipe bomb.
Lohnegger described the attacker as highly introverted, primarily engaging in online first-person shooter games, with no recorded grievances against the school, its students, or faculty. The absence of a criminal record and lack of behavioral issues during his time at the school further complicate the mystery behind his actions.
At the time of the incident, the gunman was involved in unspecified vocational training. His acquisition of the firearms was deemed lawful, having purchased the shotgun in early April and the handgun by the end of May within Graz. Possession of these weapons required psychological assessments, which he had successfully passed months prior. Between March and the attack, he participated in five shooting practices at a local shooting club, using rented firearms.
The victims of this tragic event included six girls and three boys, aged 14 to 17. While eleven additional individuals were wounded, authorities confirmed on Wednesday that none of their injuries are life-threatening.