Grief and disbelief have gripped Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, after a horrific school shooting on Tuesday left at least ten people dead, including students and adults, in what authorities are calling the deadliest gun attack in the country’s recent history. The brazen act of violence at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse secondary school has shattered Austria’s sense of security and sparked a national outpouring of sorrow.
The tragedy unfolded shortly after 10:00 AM local time, when a 21-year-old former student, armed with a pistol and a shotgun, opened fire within the school premises. Witnesses described scenes of terror and chaos as gunshots echoed through the corridors and classrooms. Police, including a specialist Cobra tactical unit, swiftly converged on the school, initiating a large-scale operation that saw hundreds of officers and paramedics descend upon the scene.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed that the gunman, who has not yet been publicly named, took his own life in a school bathroom shortly after the rampage. Initial reports indicated nine fatalities, but the death toll tragically rose to ten after an injured female victim succumbed to her injuries in hospital. At least a dozen others were injured, some critically. Among the deceased are at least seven pupils, according to Graz Mayor Elke Kahr, with other victims including adults. One of the victims has been confirmed to be a young French citizen.
The motive behind the attack remains under urgent investigation. Police stated that the gunman was not previously known to authorities and that he legally owned the two firearms used in the assault, possessing a valid firearms license. Local media reports have suggested the shooter may have been a victim of bullying during his time at the school, where he never graduated, but these claims are yet to be substantiated by official sources.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker immediately declared the shooting a “national tragedy” and a “dark day in the history of our country.” In a press conference, he expressed the profound shock felt across the nation. “A school is more than just a place to learn – it is a space for trust, for feeling comfortable and for having a future,” Stocker said, lamenting that this safe place had been “violated.”
In response to the tragedy, Austria has declared three days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and a nationwide minute’s silence scheduled for Wednesday morning. The affected school will remain closed indefinitely as authorities and the community grapple with the devastating aftermath. Crisis intervention teams are providing support to students, teachers, and parents traumatized by the event.
For many in Graz, a city of over 300,000 known for its vibrant culture and universities, such an act of violence was unfathomable. “We are not living in America, we are living in Austria, which seems like a very safe space,” remarked Fanny Gasser, a journalist for Kronen Zeitung, highlighting the pervasive sentiment of security that has now been shattered. Local residents spoke of their disbelief, with many saying they knew someone connected to the school, underscoring the close-knit nature of the community.
While Austria has some of the more liberal gun laws in the European Union, with certain rifles and shotguns available without a permit for those over 18, stricter regulations apply to handguns and semi-automatic weapons. The fact that the gunman legally obtained his weapons is expected to reignite debate about gun ownership regulations in the country, which has one of the highest per-capita gun ownership rates in Europe.
As the forensic investigation continues and the city slowly begins to mourn its dead, the school shooting in Graz stands as a chilling reminder that no community, regardless of its perceived safety, is immune to the horrors of gun violence. The pain and grief are palpable, striking at the heart of a nation grappling with an unimaginable loss.