Austria Reels From School Shooting Tragedy in Graz, 10 Dead and Dozens Injured

Austria is in mourning following one of the deadliest school shootings in the country’s history, which unfolded on Tuesday, June 10, at the BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz.

At least 10 people, including nine students and a teacher, were killed, and an astounding 28 others were injured, some critically, according to the latest reports. The 21-year-old gunman, a former student of the school, reportedly used both a shotgun and a handgun in his rampage before taking his own life inside a school restroom.

The horrific attack, which unfolded shortly before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, has left locals stunned and shaken. Videos circulated on social media showing panicked students fleeing the building and emergency responders rushing to the scene. One witness described the scene as surreal, saying they initially thought it was “a film” until they saw the bloodied victims being carried away.

The perpetrator is said to be a 22-year-old former student who, among other things, shot in his former classroom.

He reportedly used a pistol and a shotgun, which he is said to have legally owned.

— Austrian Salzburger Nachrichten https://t.co/v8Kr4VC7yd pic.twitter.com/HvGURIgpjs

— limon (@limondar0) June 10, 2025

Authorities confirmed that the shooter, who had a history of being bullied at school, had recently acquired the weapons used in the attack. While a homemade bomb and a farewell letter were discovered at his home, the exact motive remains unclear. Police and emergency services swiftly secured the area, with elite Cobra police units on-site. The gunman’s identity has been confirmed, and investigators are still piecing together the events leading up to the tragic incident.

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The Shooter https://t.co/37fKDvpco2 pic.twitter.com/tmOGOpcgTj

— Art of Information (@artofinfo) June 11, 2025

A national wave of grief followed, with Austria observing a minute’s silence on Wednesday in honor of the victims. Public transportation halted, and church bells rang out as citizens paused to reflect on the lives lost. In Graz, locals gathered outside the school, leaving flowers and lighting candles for the victims, including a Franco-Austrian and a Polish national among the dead.

Government officials, including Chancellor Christian Stocker, have expressed utter cshock and solidarity, declaring three days of national mourning. “It’s a national tragedy,” Stocker said, as the country grapples with the devastating aftermath. Governor Mario Kunasek, visibly shaken, spoke out: “As a father and a politician, I am deeply saddened. The suffering this has caused is unimaginable, and my thoughts are with the victims’ families.”

The gunman’s identity and actions are now being scrutinized, with reports suggesting he had been a victim of bullying, a claim that might provide some context for the attack. Austrian officials have pledged to investigate the incident thoroughly to determine the full extent of his plans.

Students and staff described the terrifying scenes, with one teacher recalling the overwhelming sense of disbelief. “At first, I thought it was some sort of drill or movie scene, but when I saw a student lying on the floor, it hit me: this is real,” he said.

The aftermath of this attack mirrors similar tragedies across Europe, as the continent has seen an uptick in violent incidents in schools and public spaces. However, the scale of this attack, combined with the disturbing lack of forewarning, has left the country reeling. Austria, known for its low crime rates and safety, now faces an uncomfortable reckoning over how such violence could unfold in its own schools.

As victims continue to recover in intensive care units, the Austrian public grapples with the harsh reality that their country is no longer immune to such acts of violence. Though the shooter’s motives remain unclear at this stage, the tragedy has sparked a national conversation about mental health, bullying, and the accessibility of weapons. Austrian politicians, including Chancellor Stocker, have called for more effective preventive measures to ensure that such an incident never happens again.

The European community, along with Pope Leo XIV, expressed their condolences, with leaders across Europe sending messages of sympathy to the people of Austria. “It is truly shocking,” said one student at a candlelit vigil for the victims.

As Austria begins its healing process, this tragic event stands as a painful reminder of the urgent need for a broader dialogue about how to prevent such violence and protect vulnerable students from becoming perpetrators of future horrors.