Graz High School Rampage Shocks the Country
Austria school shooting leaves nation reeling as gunman kills 10, including teens, and injures 12 at a Graz high school. The attack occurred on Tuesday morning, making it one of the deadliest school shootings in Austrian history.
The shooter, identified as a 21-year-old Austrian male, had previously attended the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse, but did not graduate. Authorities said he used both a shotgun and a pistol, before turning the gun on himself in a school bathroom.
Victims Included Teenagers and a French Student
The Interior Ministry confirmed that the victims were aged 14 to 18, and included six girls and three boys. A 17-year-old French exchange student was also among those killed.
The final victim, a severely injured adult, passed away later that evening at Graz University Hospital, bringing the death toll to 10.
No Known Motive, Shooter Acted Alone
Police believe the attacker acted alone and legally obtained the firearms. They are currently conducting interviews and forensic examinations, though no motive has been disclosed.
The gunman reportedly called his parents before his death, confessing that he had “committed a serious offense,” according to Graz Mayor Elke Kahr. Whether he left a suicide note is still unclear.
Austria Declares National Mourning
In response to the tragedy, Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning. He posted on social media:
“There are no words for the pain and grief.”
A national minute of silence was scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m., 24 hours after police received the first emergency call.
Grieving City Holds Silent Vigils
Multiple vigils were held Tuesday night in Graz, including one at Hauptplatz, the city’s central square. Hundreds of people gathered, many of them students and parents, yet the atmosphere remained eerily silent.
Local resident Eva Buchhalter-heuss expressed her shock:
“I am very upset that we now have situations in Austria that are so violent, so aggressive.”
Another mother, Doriz Prato, told reporters:
“It was terrible for me… I also have five children and one of my daughters went to this school. I can’t imagine what those parents are going through.”
Rare but Rising Violence in Austria
Gun violence is uncommon in Austria, which had a firearm homicide rate of 0.1 per 100,000 in 2021—vastly lower than the U.S. However, Austria has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in the EU, with 30 firearms per 100 residents, according to the Small Arms Survey.
This shooting follows a string of recent violent incidents, including a mayor’s assassination last October and a random stabbing in February.
Source: CNN
