Artur A Shooting Graz, Austria – Rampage at Graz’s BORG High School: 11 Dead, Dozens Injured in Tragic Shot Fired
A horrifying act of violence unfolded earlier today at the BORG school on Dreierschützenengasse in Graz, leaving 11 dead and at least 12 seriously injured. The mass shooting, carried out by a 21-year-old former student identified as Artur A., began shortly after 10:00 a.m. and sent shockwaves through the entire city.
Authorities were first alerted to gunfire erupting within the school premises, and witnesses reported hearing up to 30 shots. Chaos erupted as students and teachers scrambled for cover.
Initial reports from the scene estimated eight casualties, but by the afternoon, that number tragically climbed to 11, with the wounded toll continuing to rise. The shooter ultimately turned the weapon on himself in a school restroom, according to police.
The perpetrator, Artur A., was a known bullying victim during his time at the school. Sources have revealed that he legally acquired both a pistol and a rifle in the weeks leading up to the attack.
Investigators believe this massacre was meticulously planned, pointing to online activity and notes found in his home. Artur reportedly returned to the school grounds with clear intent to confront a past he believed had scarred him deeply.
Police swiftly locked down the area, urging residents to remain indoors and avoid the school vicinity. “Please stay home. No show-offs or curiosity seekers. We need clear access for emergency services,” a police spokesperson said during the noon update. Security forces cordoned off the school, and trauma response teams rushed to provide aid to survivors and families.
By 3:30 p.m., a press conference confirmed the shooter’s age as 21 and updated the grim toll to 11 dead and 12 seriously injured. Among the deceased are multiple students and at least two faculty members. Authorities are withholding names pending family notifications.
Many students were rushed to local hospitals, and emergency psychological support has been dispatched for the dozens of traumatized children and staff. Survivors describe hiding in closets and classrooms as the gunman moved through the corridors. “I thought we were going to die,” one 16-year-old student whispered, still visibly shaken.
In the aftermath, community grief has turned into outrage. Critics argue that this tragedy exposes failures in mental health support and gun accessibility. Calls for stricter firearm regulation and enhanced school security measures have already begun to mount.
Meanwhile, some online voices have tried to deflect attention by discussing renovations and infrastructure concerns at the school a move many have slammed as tone-deaf and highly inappropriate. As one parent put it, “Right now, children’s lives are shattered. This is not the time to talk about walls or roofs. It’s about lives.”
Ulf, a teacher at the school who witnessed the carnage, offered a heartfelt plea: “Please, don’t look away from this trauma. Process it. Talk about it. Let’s do right by these kids.”
The nation mourns today. A tragedy of this magnitude has not only shaken Graz but the entire country. In the days to come, there must be space for grief, for healing, and for real action to ensure such horror never happens again.
