Mass Shooting at Graz School: 10 Dead, Suspected Gunman Among Victims

The Austrian city of Graz is reeling after a horrific mass shooting took place at the BORG high school in the Lend district on Tuesday morning. Authorities have confirmed that ten people were killed, including the suspected shooter, a 22-year-old former student of the school.
According to early reports, the young man entered the school shortly before 10 a.m. and opened fire in two classrooms. Dozens of people have also been seriously injured, with victims rushed to several hospitals across the city. The suspect was later found dead in a school bathroom, believed to have died by suicide.
The motive appears to be revenge: investigators say the man felt he had been bullied during his time as a student at the school.

Security Response and Current Situation

The area was immediately cordoned off by police, and emergency responders swarmed the scene. By midday, officials declared the situation secure, though police continued to ask the public to avoid the area. Psychological support centers were set up for survivors and witnesses, while buses transported evacuated students away from the scene.
Nationwide Shock and Mourning
A black flag was raised at the provincial parliament building in Graz, symbolizing the collective grief of the region. Political leaders, including Styria Governor Mario Kunasek and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, expressed their deep sorrow and called for unity in the face of the tragedy.
  A moment of silence is also planned at tomorrow’s Nova Rock music festival in honor of the victims.

Hospital Update

Medical officials reported that at least seven of the injured, including five teenagers and two adults, are receiving treatment at Graz’s university hospital, with others distributed across various medical facilities. Hospitals confirmed they have sufficient capacity and are managing the emergency calmly and professionally.

Public Assistance and Information

Authorities have launched a platform where the public can upload photos or videos that might assist in the investigation: https://upload.bmi.gv.at. Citizens are urged not to attempt to retrieve children from the school themselves but to wait for official instructions.

Reminder of Past Trauma

This devastating event comes just days before the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Graz car rampage, which killed three people. The memories of that tragedy, still vivid for many locals, now overlap with fresh grief.
As Austria comes to terms with what is one of its deadliest school shootings, the country mourns the loss of young lives and grapples with questions of safety, mental health, and violence in educational settings.

Julia Ebner, an extremism expert at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue think tank, said the incident appeared to be the worst school shooting in Austria’s post-war history, describing such shootings as rare compared to some countries including the United States.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X: “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.”

Austria has one of the most heavily armed civilian populations in Europe, with an estimated 30 firearms per 100 persons, according to the Small Arms Survey, an independent research project.

Machine guns and pump action guns are banned, while revolvers, pistols and semi-automatic weapons are allowed only with official authorization. Rifles and shotguns are permitted with a firearms licence or a valid hunting licence, or for members of traditional shooting clubs.