Austria is reeling from one of its darkest days after a mass shooting at the Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz left ten people dead and at least 28 others injured. The tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday morning when a 21-year-old former student of the school opened fire on pupils and staff before taking his own life in a school bathroom, police confirmed.
According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, six females and three males were killed in the attack, with seven of the victims reported to be students. The gunman, an Austrian national who previously attended the school but never graduated, was not known to police and legally possessed the two firearms used in the assault.
National Mourning Declared, School Remains Shut in Austria
Authorities swiftly responded to the attack, with police receiving emergency calls around 10:00 local time. A special Cobra tactical unit was deployed to the scene and secured the premises. All pupils and teachers were safely evacuated.
In response to the tragedy, Austria has declared three days of national mourning. A minute’s silence will be observed nationwide at 10:00am local time on Wednesday. Flags on government buildings, including the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, will fly at half-mast. The school will remain closed until further notice, Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr confirmed.
Chancellor Christian Stocker addressed the nation, calling the incident a “national tragedy” and a “dark day in the history of our country.” He emphasised that schools should be “a space for trust, for feeling comfortable and for having a future,” describing the attack as a violation of that safe space. “These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them,” he added.
Shock and Grief Across The Nation
The community in Graz is struggling to come to terms with the horror. Fanny Gasser, a journalist for Kronen Zeitung, noted the city’s deep connection to the school, saying “everybody knows somebody” affected. “We are not living in America, we are living in Austria, which seems like a very safe space,” she told BBC News, highlighting the lack of preparedness for such violence.
Local mayor Elke Kahr labelled the shooting a “terrible tragedy,” while European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas said she was “deeply shocked,” adding that “every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence.”
As investigations continue, Austria mourns not just a loss of life but a loss of innocence.
