Former Student's Attack Leaves Austria in Shock and Mourning

On Tuesday, a former student opened fire at a school in Graz, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals, including the shooter himself. The incident prompted Austria's chancellor to describe it as a "dark day in the history of our country." The 21-year-old assailant was reportedly armed with two legally obtained firearms, and the motive behind the attack remained unknown.

Eyewitness accounts described students and teachers barricading themselves in classrooms or fleeing the scene as the shooting unfolded. Over 300 police officers responded to the Dreierschutzengasse school in the city center, where they discovered the bodies of six females and three males. A tenth victim, an adult, succumbed to critical injuries later at a hospital. The shooter took his own life within the school's restrooms.

Reports from the Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper, though unconfirmed, suggested the suspect may have been a victim of bullying. Armed with a pistol and shotgun, he reportedly targeted students in two classrooms, one of which he had previously attended. Chancellor Christian Stocker announced three days of mourning, characterizing the event as a "national tragedy" and expressing profound grief. A moment of silence was scheduled for the following day.

Police confirmed the school's security shortly before midday, indicating that all survivors had been safely evacuated. Those who survived and those with minor injuries were cared for in a nearby hall, where they were reunited with their families. One mother recounted receiving a call from her son, who was in the school during the shooting and feared for his life.

Local reactions included expressions of shock and sorrow. Local state governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) described the event as incomprehensible and expressed his deep sadness. The shooting occurred near the tenth anniversary of a previous shooting in Graz in 2015, which had also resulted in fatalities. An extremism expert noted that this incident appeared to be the worst school shooting in Austria's post-war history.

Austria has a high rate of civilian firearm ownership. German chancellor Friedrich Merz, among other foreign leaders, conveyed his shock and offered condolences.