A devastating school shooting unfolded in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday, leaving nine people dead and several others seriously wounded. Authorities confirmed that the suspected gunman, believed to have acted alone, also died at the scene.
Police reported on social media platform X that a total of 10 individuals had died, including the shooter. The fatalities reportedly include students and at least one adult, though officials have not yet released detailed information about the perpetrator.
The shooting occurred at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a high school located roughly one kilometer from Graz’s historic center. Emergency services, including special forces and helicopters, responded swiftly after a distress call was made around 10 a.m. By 11:30 a.m., the school had been fully evacuated, and authorities stated that the situation was under control and no further danger was present.
Images from the scene showed a heavy police presence, with emergency vehicles and helicopters surrounding the school building as security forces worked to secure the area.
Graz, located in southeastern Austria, is the country’s second-largest city with a population of around 300,000. The shooting has shocked the nation, prompting an outpouring of grief and condemnation from Austrian and European leaders.
Mayor Elke Kahr called the incident a “terrible tragedy,” according to the Austria Press Agency. Chancellor Christian Stocker, en route to Graz, described the attack as a “national tragedy that deeply shocks our whole country,” adding, “There are no words for the pain and grief that all of us — the whole of Austria — feel now.”
President Alexander Van der Bellen echoed that sentiment, stating, “This horror cannot be captured in words. These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher who accompanied them on their way.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also responded, writing, “Schools are symbols of youth, hope, and the future. It is hard to bear when schools become places of death and violence.”
The motive behind the attack remains unknown as investigations continue.
Austria’s gun laws allow individuals over the age of 18 to purchase certain types of manually reloaded firearms, such as rifles and shotguns, without a permit. However, acquiring semi-automatic weapons and other higher-powered firearms requires a firearms pass and registration in the national weapons database. Authorities have not yet disclosed what type of weapon was used in the attack.
Support services, including counselors and crisis teams, are being made available to students, staff, and families affected by the shooting as the nation begins to mourn the victims of this senseless act of violence.
