A gunman killed at least nine people and injured 30 others at a secondary school in Graz, Austria, on Tuesday, marking the deadliest school shooting in the country’s modern history. Authorities confirmed the attacker, identified by local media as a 22-year-old former student, died at the scene after opening fire with a pistol and shotgun in two classrooms.
Police evacuated the school and established a security perimeter while providing support to traumatized families and students. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker called the incident a “national tragedy,” emphasizing the collective grief felt across the nation. Initial reports suggest the suspect, who had no criminal record, purchased one of the weapons recently and may have been motivated by past bullying experiences.
Julia Ebner, an extremism researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, noted such attacks remain rare in Austria compared to other regions. European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas expressed solidarity on social media, stating, “Every child should feel safe at school.” The investigation continues as authorities work to confirm the attacker’s motives and connections.
