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Graz, Austria, 10 June 2025 – A horrific school shooting has left Austria in mourning after a gunman opened fire at a secondary school in Graz, the country’s second-largest city, on Tuesday. The incident, which occurred at the BORG Dreierschützengasse school in the city’s northwest, resulted in at least nine fatalities—including students and at least one adult—and left dozens injured, marking one of the deadliest mass shootings in Austria’s postwar history.
Police responded to reports of gunfire at around 10 a.m. local time, dispatching specialized tactical units, including the elite Cobra squad, to secure the scene. Authorities confirmed that the suspected shooter, identified as a 21-year-old former student, acted alone and was found dead in a school restroom, having taken his own life after the attack. The young man reportedly carried two legally owned firearms and was not previously known to law enforcement for violent behavior. While details about his motive remain unclear, local media have suggested he may have been a victim of bullying.
Among the victims, six were female and three were male, with most believed to be students aged between 14 and 18. At least 12 to 30 others suffered injuries, according to varying reports, and were transported to hospitals for urgent care. The school was quickly evacuated, with students and staff escorted to a nearby stadium to reunite with anxious parents.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker described the tragedy as a “national tragedy” and announced three days of national mourning, with flags flown at half-staff and a minute of silence observed at 10 a.m. on Wednesday Graz Mayor Elke Kahr called it a “terrible tragedy.” European leaders expressed shock and solidarity with the victims’ families.
The attack has reignited debate about gun laws in Austria, where civilian firearm ownership is among the highest in Europe, though regulations for certain weapons remain strict. As investigations continue, the nation grapples with grief and the profound loss of young lives in a community that never imagined such violence could strike home.
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