[News]
Nine dead in school attack – Graz mayor
Graz mayor Elke Kahr has just told the Austria Press Agency APA that there are nine dead, including seven students, one adult. It is understood that the ninth dead is the perpetrator.
Key events
‘National tragedy that has shaken our country,’ Austrian chancellor says
Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker has just posted a brief statement responding to the attack in Graz.
He said the shooting at the school in Graz was a “national tragedy that has deeply shaken our entire country,” calling it an “incomprehensible act” of violence.
“There are no words for the pain and grief that all of us in Austria are feeling right now,” he said.
He expressed his condolences with the families of those affected, and thanked emergency services for their reaction.
“Today it’s all about compassion. And about being there for one another. In these difficult times, humanity is our strongest force,” he said.
Other European leaders are now joining in sending their condolences to the people of Austria.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said her thoughts where with the victims, their families and friends, stressing:
Schools are symbols of youth, hope, and the future. It’s hard to bear when schools become places of death and violence. My thanks go to the emergency services and helpers during these difficult times.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni also expressed her solidarity with Austria.
Ten dead, including perpetrator – Graz mayor
The death toll has risen to ten, including the perpetrator, according to the latest update from Graz mayor Elke Kahr for the Austria Press Agency, APA.
EU foreign policy chief ‘deeply shocked’ by Graz attack
EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also commented on the attack,
Here is what she said:
Deeply shocked by the news of the school shooting in Austria. Every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Austrian people in this dark moment.
‘Incomprehensible, unbearable’ news from Graz – Austrian foreign minister
Foreign minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger is the first senior Austrian government figure to publicly respond to the attack.
In a post on X, she says the news “shocked her deeply,” calling it “incomprehensible and unbearable.”
“My sympathy and grief go out to the victims and their families. No one can imagine the suffering; as a mother of three children, it breaks my heart,” she added.
Austrian chancellor Stocker on his way to Graz
Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker is also on his way to Graz, with a press conference planned for this afternoon, the Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported.
Police responds to attack on school in Graz, Austria – in pictures
Austrian public broadcaster ORF has just carried a brief interview with a police spokesperson on site in Graz, who confirmed “several fatalities and injuries” but without any specific figures.
He added that the site has been secured and there is no further danger to the public.
We will hear from the Austrian interior minister, Gerhard Karner, at some point today, Die Presse reports.
Jakub Krupa
It’s heartbreaking to hear Austrian TV reporters, clearly in shock, saying: “This is very unusual in Austria, we usually report on them somewhere in the US or somewhere else.”
Nine dead in school attack – Graz mayor
Graz mayor Elke Kahr has just told the Austria Press Agency APA that there are nine dead, including seven students, one adult. It is understood that the ninth dead is the perpetrator.
‘Several dead’ in Graz attack – police
In a very brief social media update, the police has just confirmed “several dead” in the attack in Graz.
Earlier, it said that as part of the police response, a specialist Cobra unit and police helicopter were also deployed to the scene.
‘No further danger’ – police
The Graz police has just confirmed that it secured the site of the incident and there is no further danger.
First pictures from scene of reported attack
The Austrian national broadcaster ORF’s reporter on site says “practically nothing has been confirmed about the course of incident” beyond the gunshots, as we await further updates from the authorities.
ORF is also quoting a police spokesperson as saying that the perpetrator has likely shot himself, but adding that “the situation was still very unclear”.
At least eight dead, more injured in Austria – media reports
Unconfirmed reports in the Austrian media say at least eight people were killed in the attack, with the number of injured believed to be in “double digits,” as reported by Kronen Zeitung.
The newspaper, quoting local sources and people at the scene, says witnesses heard about 20 gunshots inside the school.
Caveat: all these numbers are yet to be confirmed by an official source.
Austria’s interior minister Gerhard Karner is reportedly on his way to Graz.
[English News]
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