GRAZ, Austria — A tragic shooting at a high school in Graz on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals, with numerous others injured, as a 21-year-old former student carried out the attack before taking his own life. The incident marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in Austria’s recent history.
Authorities confirmed that the assailant, who had no prior criminal record, utilized two firearms believed to have been legally owned. The motive behind his actions remains unclear. Emergency responders were dispatched to the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school shortly after reports of gunfire began at 10 a.m. Local media captured footage of students fleeing the building past armed personnel as more than 300 police officers quickly secured the area.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker labeled the event a “national tragedy,” expressing profound sorrow for the victims and their families. In response to the violence, he announced three days of national mourning. Flags will be flown at half-staff across the country, and a minute of silence will be observed on Wednesday morning.
The shooter was a local resident who had attended the high school but did not complete his studies. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner reported that six of the deceased were female and three were male, with an adult woman subsequently succumbing to her injuries, raising the death toll. The regional police chief disclosed that both firearms—a long gun and a handgun—were recovered from the scene.
Austria’s Red Cross mobilized extensive resources, including 65 ambulances and 158 emergency staff, to treat the injured. Psychologists were made available to counsel students and their families, while community members were encouraged to donate blood.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as emergency vehicles flooded the streets surrounding the school. Metin Özden, a local restaurant owner, recounted hearing alarming sirens and seeing distraught parents rushing to the site. “I knew something bad had happened,” he said, recalling the heavy police presence that followed.
This incident was the most severe attack in Austria since a 2020 Vienna shooting that resulted in four fatalities and many injuries. Though the nation has a history of relatively relaxed gun laws compared to other European countries, its recent violent events have sparked discussions about potential reforms.
Austria’s laws allow for the ownership of some firearms, such as manual-loading rifles and shotguns, from age 18 without a permit. However, purchasing more powerful or semi-automatic firearms requires additional verification. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, authorities may face pressure to re-evaluate these regulations.
The shooting has left a deep scar on the community of Graz, which is now mourning the loss of lives in an act of unimaginable violence. As families grieve, the country awaits further investigations into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.