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Graz, Austria Reels After School Shooting Claims Nine Young Lives
A horrific school shooting in Graz, Austria has left the nation in mourning. Nine people were killed at the BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school on Tuesday, six female and three male, according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
Twelve others were injured. The suspected shooter, a 21-year-old from Graz, was also found dead at the scene, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a bathroom.
Chancellor Christian Stocker addressed the nation, calling it a “dark day” and expressing his deepest sympathies to the victims’ families. He declared three days of national mourning, with flags at half-staff on all public buildings and a nationwide minute of silence planned for Wednesday. Stocker emphasized the importance of schools as safe havens, stating, “Our schools have to remain spaces of peace, where our children can learn and grow without any danger.”
Police responded swiftly to emergency calls received around 10 a.m. local time, arriving at the school within minutes. Over 300 officers, along with tactical units, a helicopter, and ambulances, were deployed to secure the area and evacuate the school.
Two firearms were recovered from the scene. Authorities confirmed there was only one shooter.
Students were initially taken to the nearby Helmut List Hall for emergency care before being transported to a hospital. A designated meeting point for parents was established at the ASKÖ football stadium. The State Crime Office of Styria is conducting a thorough investigation, and a crisis intervention team is providing support to those affected.
Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen expressed his profound grief, saying, “These were adolescents, who had their whole life ahead of them. This horror cannot be put into words.” The nation grapples with the immense loss and searches for answers in the wake of this tragedy.