After the Graz tragedy, Austria increases school patrols, Vienna Pride changes tone, and experts demand change in language support for children, and more stories from Austria on Thursday.
Investigators search for motive in deadly Graz school shooting
Authorities continued to investigate the background of 21-year-old Arthur A., who shot and killed ten people at a secondary school in Graz on Tuesday. Nine of the victims were teenagers aged between 14 and 17, and one was a teacher.
A farewell message, both in video and handwritten form, was found, but it reportedly shed no light on his motives, according to Der Standard. The suspect, a former student of the school, died by suicide in a toilet on the premises.
Police also found a non-functional pipe bomb and an attack plan at his home, where he lived with his mother. He legally owned the weapons used in the attack, despite not having the required permit to carry them outside his home. The shooter had recently begun training at a local shooting club. Over 100 eyewitnesses are expected to be questioned.
READ ALSO: It’s easy to get a gun in Austria, but will the Graz shooting bring change?
Austria boosts school security amid copycat threat fears
Following the Graz school shooting, police across Austria ramped up their presence in school zones as a preventive measure. According to ORF, quick-response police units have been on heightened alert since 8 am Wednesday, particularly around school buildings. These measures are expected to remain in place until the end of the school term.
Although no concrete new protocols are in place yet, the education ministry said crisis management efforts have been “sensitively intensified.” Several school events have been postponed or cancelled, and schools across the country observed moments of silence. Some schools also sent parents guidelines on how to speak with children about traumatic events.
READ ALSO: Austria school shooting: Authorities fear threat of copycat attacks
Vienna Pride cancels music and alcohol on opening night
Out of respect for the victims of the Graz tragedy, Vienna Pride will open its 2025 celebrations in a markedly quieter tone.
As Kurier reported, Thursday’s programme will omit DJ sets and alcohol service. Instead, the evening will feature remembrance speeches at 7 pm, followed by a communal sea of lights at 9 pm.
Organisers said the rest of the week’s events may also be adjusted. “After the tragic murder in Graz, we are currently adapting the entire programme,” a spokesperson stated. Daily updates are expected.
READ ALSO: What’s on in Austria: The best events in June 2025
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Austrian reportedly among EU nationals facing deportation via Guantanamo
The US government is reportedly preparing to detain and deport thousands of undocumented migrants via Guantanamo Bay, including citizens from EU countries.
A ORF report cited US media indicating that one Austrian may be among 800 Europeans targeted for deportation.
Austria’s foreign ministry said it could not confirm the report but was in contact with US authorities. Critics, including UN officials, raised concerns about human rights violations, pointing out that the detention of migrants should be a last resort.
READ ALSO: How can Vienna solve its ‘immigration problems’?
Experts demand overhaul of Austria’s German language support for children
Austria’s current model of German language support for children in schools and kindergartens came under fire at a press conference on Wednesday.
ORF quoted multilingual education experts criticising the system of standardised language tests and separate support classes for placing undue stress on children, parents, and educators.
Carmen Kovacs of the Startklar association warned that the structure reduces language learning to a bureaucratic task and undermines the social and creative value of language. A Vienna school director added that the burden of testing was immense and often pedagogically meaningless, particularly in schools where the majority of students start with German deficits.
READ ALSO: Could kids in Austria face compulsory kindergarten to improve their German?
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Austria loses €115m to illegal cigarette trade
Austria lost an estimated €115 million in tax revenue last year due to the sale of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes, according to Kurier.
The country consumed around 520 million illegal cigarettes in 2024, 4.3 percent of the market.
The figures come from a KPMG study commissioned by tobacco firm Philip Morris. Experts say criminal networks are increasingly investing in counterfeit cigarette production, with many operations now producing on demand and exploiting workers. The EU-wide tax loss was estimated at €14.9 billion.
READ ALSO: Could the EU force Austria to ban smoking in outdoor cafe areas?
Electric cars gain ground as diesel fades in Austria
Electric and hybrid vehicles are gaining popularity in Austria, even without government subsidies. Der Standard reported that 25,295 all-electric cars were registered between January and May 2025—a 44.7 percent increase compared to last year. Petrol hybrids were even more popular, with over 36,000 new registrations.
In contrast, diesel cars are rapidly declining in popularity. New diesel registrations dropped by nearly one-third to just over 14,000. Diesel now accounts for only 11.2 percent of new vehicles sold, a dramatic fall from over 50 percent just seven years ago.
READ ALSO: Austria’s greenhouse gas emissions decline, but challenges remain
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