Gunman Kills 10, Injures 11 in Mass Shooting at Austrian Secondary School in Graz
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Ten people, including students and adults, were killed when a gunman opened fire at the BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz, Austria, in one of the deadliest school shootings in the country’s history. Twelve others were initially reported injured, although one later died in hospital from life-threatening injuries, bringing the death toll to 10. It remains unclear if this reduced the injured count to 11.
Austria’s Interior Minister confirmed that the attacker was a 21-year-old Austrian male and a former student of the school who did not complete his studies. Authorities said the shooter acted alone and was found dead in a school restroom after the attack, having apparently taken his own life. He was armed with a shotgun and a pistol, both of which he appeared to have owned legally.
According to firearm regulations in Austria, individuals can purchase shotguns at age 18, while buying a pistol requires passing a psychological assessment. No motive has yet been determined, and investigators have said they had no prior warning signs or information suggesting the suspect posed a threat.
Disturbing footage shared online captured the chaos during the shooting, with gunshots and screams echoing through the halls. Special forces responded swiftly, arriving at the scene within minutes after the first emergency call at 10 a.m. local time. Police evacuated the school and established a secure meeting point for students and staff. A heavy police presence surrounded the area, and helicopters were deployed overhead.
Among the dead is a French national, confirmed by France’s education minister. The mother of a student who survived the shooting recounted the harrowing moment she received a call from her son: “My son called me to say he was in school and that he was being shot and that he thought he was going to die.” She only learned two hours later that he had survived.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning. Flags were lowered to half-mast, and a minute of silence was observed across the country at 10 a.m. Wednesday. “It is a dark day in the history of our country,” said the chancellor.
President Alexander Van der Bellen added, “This horror cannot be captured in words. These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher who accompanied them on their way.”
In the hours after the tragedy, mourners gathered in Graz’s city center to light candles and reflect quietly in memory of the victims. The city, home to around 300,000 people, is still reeling from the impact of the shooting.
The school later shared a message on Instagram, expressing grief and solidarity: “It was a really terrible day that deeply impacted and affected us all. Let us continue to stand together as a school community and support one another. Your teachers and your principal.”
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