A gunman opened fire at Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz, Austria, on Tuesday, June 10th, killing nine people, including students and at least one adult, before taking his own life, authorities confirmed. The attack, which unfolded around 10 a.m. local time in the city’s north-west, left 28 others injured, with victims receiving treatment at local hospitals, according to police reports.
Officers, including Austria’s elite COBRA tactical unit, swiftly responded to reports of gunfire, securing the school and evacuating students and staff by noon. A nearby stadium was opened as a safe gathering point for students and their families. Police emphasized that the area was secure and posed no further threat to the public.
Chancellor Christian Stocker described the shooting as a “national tragedy that has deeply shaken our entire country.” He, alongside the interior minister, traveled to Graz to address the crisis. Mayor Elke Kahr called the event a “terrible tragedy,” reflecting the profound grief felt across the city. Austria declared three days of national mourning, with flags lowered to half-mast at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace, the office of President Alexander Van der Bellen.
Fanny Gasser, a journalist with Kronen Zeitung, highlighted the tight-knit nature of Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, noting, “Everybody knows somebody” connected to the school. She added that the community was unprepared for such violence, explaining, “We are not living in America, we are living in Austria, which seems like a very safe space.” Locals were seen crying in the streets, grappling with the loss of friends and loved ones.
The incident marks one of the deadliest school shootings in Europe in recent years. Graz, a vibrant university town, previously endured a mass attack a decade ago when a man drove into crowds, killing three and injuring dozens. Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind Tuesday’s attack, with police and COBRA units collecting evidence at the scene.
