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Austria school shooting leaves 10 dead as a gunman opened fire at a school in the southeastern Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday, with several students and at least one adult among the victims, the local mayor confirmed.
Several students and at least one adult, as well as the suspected shooter, were among the dead, mayor Elke Kahr confirmed to Austrian press agency APA.
Graz Mayor Elke Kahr reported that 10 people died in the attack on a school in the city, including the attacker.
Kahr stated that among the dead were several students, at least one adult and the suspected shooter.
Due to the attack, Prime Minister Christian Stocker cancelled all his programs while Interior Minister Gerhard Karner headed to Graz.
Reports in the country's media stated that in the attack, which was experienced at this level for the first time in the country's history, the attacker who killed at least nine people committed suicide in the school's toilet.
It was alleged that the attacker was a student of the school and had been subjected to bullying.
The reports state that the attacker committed suicide after opening fire randomly at the school.
The perpetrator is a student, according to police circles, and is said to have committed suicide. He is said to have gone into two classrooms and shot around him.
The emergency forces have meanwhile described the situation as secured. According to initial information, the perpetrator is said to have acted alone.
The Styria Police shared on X that there was an operation at BORG Dreierschutzengasse and several task forces, including Cobra, were involved. They were alerted because shots were heard from the building.
The operation began around 10 a.m. local time. According to initial findings, shots were heard in a school. The population was asked to avoid the area around the school and to follow the instructions of the security forces on site.
In addition to at least nine dead, 28 injured people are currently being treated in hospitals. At least four of them are in extremely critical condition, with some victims reportedly shot in the head.
In addition to a large deployment of paramedics, OAMTC air rescue is also in operation in Graz. With three helicopters, Christophorus 12, 16 and 17, victims of the rampage were flown to hospitals.
The area around the school was cordoned off, public transport was diverted. All streets around the school were guarded by heavily armed police officers, while shortly before noon, rescue vehicles were still on the way to the school.
The police have meanwhile set up a meeting point at the ASKO Stadium. According to police, parents and students are being looked after by crisis intervention teams.
State Governor Mario Kunasek expressed shock in an initial reaction: "It is inconceivable what has happened in Graz today. As State Governor of Styria and as a father, I am deeply affected by this insane act that has brought so much misfortune and incredible suffering. My thoughts are with the innocent victims, families and teachers."
He is in constant contact with the Interior Minister, members of the state government and the state police directorate and immediately cancelled his appointments in Ennstal when he learned of the terrible case.
Shortly after noon, the relieving news came from the police: The situation around BORG Dreierschutzengasse has now been secured.
Austrian broadcaster ORF quoted the interior ministry as saying several people died on Tuesday after a suspected shooter opened fire in a southeastern Austrian school, including the suspected attacker.
According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, citing police, a student was behind the shooting, which led to the school's evacuation.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated: "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."
In January 2025, an 18-year-old man fatally stabbed a high school student and a teacher at a school in northeastern Slovakia.
In December 2024, a 19-year-old man stabbed a seven-year-old student to death and injured several others at a primary school in Zagreb, Croatia.
In December 2023, an attack by a student at a university in central Prague left 14 people dead and 25 injured.
A few months earlier that year, a 13-year-old gunned down eight fellow classmates and a security guard at an elementary school in downtown Belgrade. Six children and a teacher were also injured. The shooter contacted the police, who arrested him.
In 2009, nine pupils, three teachers and three passers-by were killed in a school shooting at Winnenden in southern Germany by a former pupil who then killed himself.
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