Austria Reels School Shooting Horror Leaves Nation in Mourning

Police seek answers as Austria mourns victims of one of the worst shootings in its history - CNN

Austria Grapples with Grief After Deadly School Shooting

Austria is in mourning following a horrific school shooting in Graz that claimed the lives of ten people, including nine students and a teacher. The tragedy, one of the worst in the country's history, has left the nation reeling and searching for answers.

Police are currently investigating the motives behind the attack, which occurred at the Dreierschützengasse secondary school. A 21-year-old Austrian national, a former student of the school, opened fire on Tuesday morning, leaving a scene of unimaginable horror. A minute of silence was observed near the school, 24 hours after the rampage, as scores of shocked citizens gathered to remember the victims.

Key findings from the police investigation so far include:

  • The discovery of a non-functional makeshift bomb at the shooter's home.
  • A suicide note, found both in digital and handwritten form.
  • A video message left by the suspect.

“We have carried out a search operation at the home address of the… suspect from the district of Graz… and have been able to establish that there was a suicide note both in digital form, via video message, and in handwritten form,” Graz police spokesman Sabri Yorgun told CNN.

The victims of this senseless act of violence include:

  • Nine students, aged between 14 and 17. One student was found dead outside the school; the others inside.
  • One female school teacher who died later in hospital.

Tragically, among the deceased, one victim was a Polish national, while the others were Austrian citizens. A French student was among the injured, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

In addition to the ten fatalities, **eleven people were injured** in the shooting, with ages ranging from 15 to 26. These included eight Austrian citizens, two Romanian citizens, and one Iranian citizen. Fortunately, all those injured are now reported to be in a stable condition, although nine remain in intensive care and some require further surgery.


The shooter used both a rifle and a handgun in the attack. After the massacre, he fatally shot himself in a bathroom within the school premises.

While gun violence is relatively rare in Austria compared to other countries like the United States (with a firearm homicide rate of just 0.1 per 100,000 people in 2021), gun ownership is higher than in many other European Union countries, with 30 civilian firearms owned for every 100 citizens.

This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and the urgent need for continued efforts to promote safety and mental health awareness. As Austria mourns, the focus remains on supporting the victims' families and the community as they navigate this incredibly difficult time. The investigation continues, with the hope of uncovering the reasons behind this unspeakable act and preventing future tragedies.

Tags: Austria shooting, Graz, School shooting, Gunman, Victims, Suicide note, Police investigation, Styria, Crime, Austria, Gun Violence, Mental Health, Tragedy, European News

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/11/europe/police-seek-answers-austria-school-shooting-graz-intl

Comments