Deadly school shooting in Austria leaves at least ten dead

Tuesday 10 June 2025 - 13:33

By: Zahouani Ilham

Deadly school shooting in Austria leaves at least ten dead

A tragic shooting at a high school in Graz, Austria, has resulted in the deaths of at least ten people, according to local officials. Mayor Elke Kahr described the incident as a “terrible tragedy” and reported many others were hospitalized with injuries.

Authorities believe the shooter acted alone. Special forces responded promptly to the BORG Dreierschützengasse school shortly after the attack began at 10 a.m. The school was evacuated by 11:30 a.m., and police confirmed the area was secure with no ongoing threat.

The suspect is reportedly a 22-year-old former student armed with a pistol and shotgun. Graz, Austria’s second-largest city with approximately 300,000 residents, is still in shock.

Chancellor Christian Stocker called the shooting a national tragedy that has shaken the country deeply. President Alexander Van der Bellen mourned the loss of young lives and a dedicated teacher caught in the attack.

European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas expressed her deep sorrow, emphasizing that every child should feel safe at school without fear of violence. Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger shared heartfelt condolences, reflecting the nation’s pain.

Austria has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in Europe, but strict regulations restrict automatic weapons. Such attacks remain rare in the peaceful Alpine country, ranked among the world’s safest.

Recent years have seen similar tragedies across Europe, including fatal school attacks in Slovakia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Germany, underscoring a worrying pattern of violence in educational settings.