BERLIN — A devastating shooting incident unfolded on Tuesday morning in the southern Austrian city of Graz, where a gunman opened fire at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine individuals. Authorities have confirmed that the shooter is also deceased, with preliminary investigations indicating it was a suicide.
Police responded to multiple reports of gunfire at approximately 10 a.m. local time. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the gunman had killed nine people and injured 12 others. Among the deceased were six females and three males, although law enforcement officials did not disclose the ages or identities of the victims, nor did they specify how many were students or faculty members.
Following the initial reports of gunfire, swift action was taken by the police to evacuate the school. A total of 300 police officers and 160 paramedics were deployed to the scene to manage the crisis effectively. The suspected shooter, identified as a 21-year-old former student of the school, was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a school restroom. Authorities confirmed that he acted alone and had brought two firearms to the scene — a rifle and a handgun.
The name of the shooter has not been released, and police indicated that he was not previously known to them. They also stated that he had the legal right to possess the weapons used in the attack, as he held a valid license for both firearms.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker addressed the media during an afternoon press conference in Graz, expressing the profound sense of loss and disbelief that has gripped the nation. “There are no words to describe the pain, the disbelief, and the grief that all of Austria feels right now. Our country has fallen silent in horror,” he stated. In light of this tragic event, Chancellor Stocker has called for three days of national mourning.
Austria, with a population of approximately 9 million, has one of the most heavily armed civilian populations in Europe, boasting an estimated 30 firearms per 100 residents. While the ownership of machine guns and pump-action firearms is prohibited, citizens may legally own revolvers, pistols, and even semi-automatic weapons, provided they navigate the permitting and licensing process successfully.
This incident marks a rare occurrence of mass violence in Austria, a country that has historically maintained low rates of gun-related crimes compared to its neighbors. The impact of this tragic event will undoubtedly resonate throughout the community and the nation as they grapple with the aftermath of such a profound loss.
