Graz (Agencies): At least ten people have been killed in a tragic school shooting at BORG Dreierschutzengasse, a secondary school in the Lend district of Graz, Austrian authorities confirmed. The suspected gunman, believed to be a former student, turned the weapon on himself after the attack.
The shooting occurred at 10 a.m. local time, prompting an immediate response from Cobra special forces and police helicopters. Mayor Elke Kahr later confirmed that the victims included one adult and nine students, with around 30 others injured, including teachers and students, at least two of whom remain in critical condition.
The attacker has been identified as a 21-year-old Austrian citizen from the Graz-Umgebung district. Police reported that he used two legally owned firearms before shooting himself in a restroom. Authorities noted that he had no prior criminal record, while media reports suggest he may have been a victim of bullying.
Police successfully evacuated all students and staff, stating, “The situation is secure. No further danger is expected.”
The shooting coincided with Austria’s Matura exams, the country’s equivalent of final secondary school assessments. In response, the Austrian government plans to declare three days of national mourning, calling it the deadliest school shooting in modern Austrian history. Flags outside Hofburg Palace in Vienna have been lowered to half-mast as officials express condolences.
Mayor Elke Kahr described the incident as a “terrible tragedy,” while Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig urged unity, stating, “Hatred and violence must never prevail.” Chancellor Christian Stocker called the attack a “dark day in the history of our country” and a “national tragedy that shakes us deeply.”