GRAZ, Austria. A former pupil opened fire at a secondary school in Graz on Tuesday, killing 10 people and himself in what has become the worst school shooting in Austria’s modern history.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said six of the victims were female and three were male, but he did not disclose their ages. Graz Hospital later confirmed the death of a 10th victim. Another dozen people were injured, though further details were not provided. Austrian media reported that most victims were pupils.
Police believe the 21-year-old Austrian shooter acted alone when he entered the school with a shotgun and a pistol and began shooting. He was found dead in a bathroom, and authorities said his motive remains unclear.
Director General of Public Security Franz Ruf told state broadcaster ORF that victims were found throughout the building, on various floors. Chancellor Christian Stocker described the shooting as a “dark day in the history of our country,” adding, “There are no words for the pain and grief that we all, all of Austria, are feeling right now.”
Stocker traveled to Graz and announced three days of national mourning, with a minute of silence set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Ruf also revealed that the suspect had left behind a farewell letter, both in analogue and digital form, in which he said goodbye to his parents but did not mention a motive.
More than 300 police officers responded after shots were heard at around 10 a.m. at the school, which teaches students aged 15 and above. Ambulances arrived within minutes as the area was cordoned off.
The Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper, in an unconfirmed report, said the suspect had fired at pupils in two classrooms, including one that had been his own. The report added that the suspect may have been a victim of bullying.
Julia Ebner, an extremism expert at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue think-tank, said this was the worst school shooting in Austria’s post-war history. The tragedy drew condolences from foreign leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Austria has one of Europe’s most heavily armed civilian populations, with an estimated 30 firearms per 100 people, according to the Small Arms Survey. Previous mass shootings in Austria include a 2020 jihadist attack in Vienna that killed four and injured 22, and a 1997 shooting in Mauterndorf in which a mechanic killed six before taking his own life.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
