Austria was left reeling on Tuesday after a school shooting in Graz claimed the lives of ten people, including the suspected shooter. Here’s what we know so far about the deadly rampage.
Where did the shooting take place?
The shooting happened at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a secondary school located in the Lend district of Graz, a city of around 300,000 in the southern state of Styria. The secondary school serves students aged 14 to 18.
The attack triggered a large-scale police response at around 10 am on Tuesday. The area surrounding the school was cordoned off, public transport was redirected, and heavily armed police officers and Cobra special forces units were deployed.
By 11.30 am, police confirmed that the situation was under control and there was no ongoing threat to the public.
What happened during the attack?
Precise details of what happened have not been made public at the time of publication, but according to initial, unconfirmed reports the suspected perpetrator opened fire in two separate classrooms.
Initial reports talked off multiple people being injured, but then ten people were later confirmed dead by the city’s mayor, including the suspected shooter himself. According to the Austrian Press Agency, the attacker is believed to have turned a gun on himself and taken his own life.
Dozens of others were treated for injuries and trauma, and emergency protocols for mass casualty incidents were triggered.
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Who are the victims?
Authorities have confirmed that among the ten dead were seven school students and at least one adult. Several others were injured and required hospital treatment.
Details about the identities of the victims have not yet been made public. The injured were transported to multiple hospitals across Styria, and psychological support teams were deployed to assist survivors and their families.
A contact point for parents was set up at the nearby ASKÖ hall, while the Helmut-List-Halle served as a care centre for affected students.
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What do we know about the suspected shooter?
The suspected perpetrator is believed to be a 22-year-old former student of the school. According to Salzburger Nachrichten, he used a pistol and a shotgun—both of which were legally obtained. Police believe he acted alone, though initial reports did not rule out the possibility of a second perpetrator.
At this stage, the motive remains unclear. The investigation is ongoing and could take several days or even weeks, police said.
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How has Austria responded?
Chancellor Christian Stocker called the incident a “national tragedy that has deeply shaken the entire country,” adding that “there are no words for the pain and grief” caused by the attack. He and Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr travelled to Graz and cancelled all scheduled appearances.
President Alexander Van der Bellen, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also issued messages of condolence and solidarity.
The Ministry of the Interior has asked the public not to post any photos or videos of the crime scene on social media and to upload relevant information to a dedicated platform instead.
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What support is available to students and families?
The Styrian Education Directorate has activated its emergency response, including mobile crisis intervention teams and school psychologists. A support hotline has also been set up (+49 664 80 345 55 665).
The youth counselling service Rat auf Draht has published tips for parents on how to speak to children about traumatic events. Experts recommend honest, age-appropriate conversations and advise parents to moderate children’s media consumption in the days following such an incident.
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What are schools in Austria advised to do in such situations?
Each Austrian state, including Styria, has protocols for armed attacks in schools. According to guidelines shared with APA, these include lockdown instructions, using code words to alert staff, and not leaving classrooms until cleared by police. Teachers are advised to barricade doors with furniture, avoid windows, and keep mobile phones off to reduce panic.
The Education Directorate is responsible for external communication and fielding parental inquiries during such events.
What happens next?
Investigators were continuing to gather evidence and question witnesses; the area around the school was still blocked, but police said the incident was over.
More updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds.
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