Gunman opens fire in Austrian school, killing 10 and throwing country into shock

Austria is in mourning after a school shooting in Graz claimed the lives of ten people, including several teenagers. The attack, one of the deadliest in Austrian history, unfolded Tuesday morning at a high school in the city’s northwest.

Police said the gunman, a 21-year-old Austrian man and former student, opened fire at Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse around 10 a.m. local time. Armed with a pistol and a shotgun, he shot students in multiple areas of the school before fatally turning the weapon on himself inside a bathroom.

Officials initially reported nine deaths, but Graz University Hospital later confirmed the death of a critically injured adult. The final toll now stands at ten. Austria’s Interior Ministry said the victims included children aged 14 to 18. Six were female and three were male. Twelve others suffered injuries, with several in serious condition.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner addressed the tragedy during a news conference. "This is an unfathomable act of violence," he said. "It has shaken us all."

Police said the shooter acted alone. He had previously attended the school but did not graduate. Authorities confirmed he acquired the weapons legally, but a motive has not been identified. Forensic teams are analyzing the firearms, and investigators are interviewing witnesses.

“This act was carried out with legally obtained weapons,” said a police spokesperson. “We are reviewing all circumstances surrounding this tragedy.”

The school was quickly evacuated as emergency teams arrived. Officers secured the area with helicopters and multiple police units, including special forces. Social media updates from law enforcement assured the public there was no further danger.

Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote, “There are no words for the pain and grief. This is a national tragedy.”

Images from the scene show officers standing guard outside the school and helicopters circling overhead. Students and staff were seen fleeing the area in shock.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, also expressed sorrow. “It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence,” she said in a statement.

Gun violence remains rare in Austria. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reported only 0.1 firearm homicides per 100,000 people in 2021. That compares to 4.5 per 100,000 in the United States.

However, Austria has a relatively high rate of gun ownership. According to the Small Arms Survey, there are 30 civilian firearms per 100 residents. The Geneva-based institute said this places Austria among the higher-ranking EU nations for civilian weapon possession.

Despite the low rate of gun crime, Austria has experienced several recent violent incidents. In October 2024, a mayor and another person were shot dead in a small town. In February 2025, a 23-year-old man stabbed five strangers in southern Austria in what authorities described as a random act.

Tuesday’s rampage has left many questioning how the shooter accessed weapons and what led to the attack. Mental health advocates are calling for increased support for at-risk youth and former students.

“This kind of trauma stays with a community,” said Dr. Petra Linz, a psychologist who works with youth violence cases. “We must address the roots—disconnection, isolation, and untreated mental illness.”

Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, has begun placing flowers and candles outside the school. Local leaders have organized vigils to honor the victims.

For many in the country, the events of June 10 will mark a painful turning point. “This inconceivable act suddenly tore young people from the life they still had ahead of them,” said Chancellor Stocker.

Austria’s education ministry is offering grief counseling to students and staff. School officials said classes will remain suspended through the mourning period.

As the investigation continues, Austria confronts a hard truth. Even in nations with strong gun laws and low crime rates, such tragedies can still unfold.