A gunman attacked a high school in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, on Tuesday, killing at least 10 people before killing himself, police said.
Austria will hold a national day of mourning on Wednesday, with a minute’s silence, as this is the country’s worst mass shooting outside of wartime.
What Happened?
The shooting took place in the morning at BORG Dreierschutzengasse secondary school in Graz, the capital of Styria province.
Police were called around 10 am (08:00 GMT) after gunshots were heard. The school was evacuated, with students and teachers taken to safety, and about 300 police officers sent to the scene.
Graz is around 200km (124 miles) southwest of Vienna and is known for its historic sites, like the Clock Tower on Schlossberg hill. With over 300,000 people, it’s Austria’s second-biggest city after Vienna.
Graz is a diverse city with many universities. As of January, a quarter of its population were foreign nationals, with Croatians, Romanians, Germans, and Bosnians being the largest groups.
Who Were the Victims?
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said six women and three men were killed, with 12 others injured. Later, a 10th victim—an adult woman—died in hospital.
Earlier, Graz’s mayor said at least seven students and two adults were among the dead.
Who Was the Shooter?
Austrian media named the suspect as a 21-year-old former student from Graz. Police confirmed this, adding he acted alone and later killed himself in the school toilets. His name has not been released.
Reports say he had been bullied, but this has not been confirmed.
He used a pistol and a shotgun, firing at students in two classrooms—one of which he had once been in. Police believe he owned the guns legally.
Investigators found a goodbye letter to his parents at his home but found no clear motive for the attack.
