Austria school shooting vigil turned Graz’s heart into a beacon of sorrow on Tuesday night, as thousands gathered to remember the victims of the country’s deadliest school shooting. Just hours earlier, a 21-year-old former student had stormed Dreierschützengasse secondary school, killing 10 and injuring 12 before taking his own life.
This horror has shaken Austria, but amid this chaos, the residents have turned to unity, grief, and silent remembrance.
Austria School Shooting Vigil: Graz Unites in Grief with Candlelight
As darkness fell over Graz in Austria, its main square shimmered with thousands of flickering candles. All the people arrived in quiet waves, some came alone, while the others arm in arm, clutching candles, praying, or simply standing in solemn reflection. All of the volunteers carefully set up the lights on the steps of the Archbishop Johann fountain, turning the monument into a glowing memorial for those who died.
Seven of the victims were students; the final death toll included six females and three males, with another young woman succumbing to her injuries in the hospital. In the words of Chancellor Christian Stocker, it was a “dark day in the history of our country.” The city’s collective mourning was echoed by heartfelt gestures, like long queues at blood donation centres and a nationwide minute of silence announced for Wednesday at 10:00 AM.
Gunman Identified as Former Student With Licensed Firearms
Authorities confirmed the shooter was a former Dreierschützengasse student who did not complete his education there. He legally owned a pistol and shotgun, both used in the attack. Though unfamiliar to law enforcement before Tuesday, his actions have left an irreversible mark. Police evacuated the school and confirmed there was no ongoing threat, but the scars remain.
Eyewitness accounts added chilling depth to the day’s events. Residents reported hearing 30 to 40 gunshots, and videos captured the frantic evacuation of students. “We’re not used to this,” one journalist noted, reflecting on the city’s shock. The school will remain closed indefinitely, as the investigation continues.
In a city where everyone knows someone, the Austria school shooting vigil proved that mourning, like healing, is a communal act.
