Tragedy Strikes Graz: Austria Faces Its Deadliest School Shooting

The serene city of Graz, known for its safety, has been plunged into mourning following a devastating school shooting that claimed the lives of 11 individuals. Community leaders and residents are left grappling with the tragedy as Austria declares three days of national mourning.

In a heartbreaking event that has left the city of Graz in monumental shock, Austria endured its deadliest school shooting in modern history. The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday around 10:00 am, when a former student launched an attack at a secondary school in Dreierschützengasse, killing 11 individuals, including himself. The assailant, a 21-year-old man who had legally acquired two firearms, took his own life after the massacre.

Local residents, such as Reka, expressed profound disbelief at the horror that unfolded in their usually peaceful community. “We never could have imagined that this could have happened here, in our place,” she lamented. While morning classes were taking place, the gunman unleashed violence on students, some of whom were on the brink of their final exams. Tragically, by the end of the ordeal, six female victims and three male victims were confirmed dead, with an adult woman later succumbing to injuries in the hospital.

Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen responded with deep sorrow, stating that the incident “hits our country right in the heart.” He conveyed mass condolences to the families of those killed, while Chancellor Christian Stocker described the shooting as a “national tragedy” that has shaken Austria at its core. In response to the calamity, the government has declared three days of mourning, with flags in Vienna's Hofburg Palace flying at half-mast.

Despite Austria’s relatively low incidence of school shootings, the country has one of the highest rates of civilian firearm ownership in Europe, with approximately 30 guns for every 100 individuals. Previous shooting incidents have been far less fatal, underlining the shocking nature of the Graz attack. This has sparked renewed discussions on gun laws, as it has been revealed that the shooter had legally purchased one of the firearms only a day before his actions.

Witness accounts from the scene have depicted scenes of horror, with young locals struggling to comprehend the violent loss of their peers. As Graz grapples with this unimaginable grief, calls for reflection and change echo through the mourning city.