Image Credentials: Image Title: School Shooting in Graz Leaves 9 Dead, Multiple Injured Source: (Grok, xAI) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), and it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Saff Writer with Agencies
GRAZ, AUSTRIA — A tragic school shooting shook the southeastern Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday morning, leaving at least nine people dead and several others wounded, according to the Austrian Ministry of the Interior and local authorities. The attack, which occurred at a secondary school in the city’s urban district, is being described as one of the deadliest school-related incidents in the country’s recent history.
Police responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, deploying emergency units, helicopters, and special forces to the scene. Upon arrival, officers evacuated the school and secured the building. The assailant, believed to be a former student, is among the deceased, having reportedly taken his own life during the rampage.
#BREAKING: At least 9 dead in school shooting in Graz, Austria
Preliminary reports indicate that the attacker was shot dead, Both students & teachers are among the victims.#Austria #Graz pic.twitter.com/Abt0SoT80r
— JUST IN | World (@justinbroadcast) June 10, 2025
Victims and Chaos
Mayor Elke Kahr confirmed that nine people, including one adult and seven students, were killed in the attack. Local media outlet APA initially reported 10 fatalities, but the Ministry of the Interior later clarified the official death toll as nine. In addition to the deceased, at least ten individuals sustained injuries, many of them serious, including both students and teachers.
“This is a horrifying tragedy. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this senseless act,” Kahr said in a press statement outside the Graz City Hall.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as alarms sounded and students scrambled to hide or escape. “We heard shots and locked the classroom door,” said one student, speaking anonymously to Austrian broadcaster ORF. “We were terrified. Some of us were crying. We didn’t know if we were going to get out.”
Shooter Acted Alone, Authorities Say
Fritz Grundnig, a police spokesperson, stated that the attacker was a former student who had entered the school building and opened fire in at least two classrooms. The suspect is believed to have acted alone and died by suicide before police forces reached him.
“The situation is under control,” Grundnig said. “We are not looking for other suspects at this time.”
According to the regional police in Styria, students were taken to a designated meeting point nearby, where emotional reunions took place as parents arrived to collect their children.
Investigation Underway
The Austrian Criminal Police Office has opened a full investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, including the suspect’s background and possible motive. Early reports suggest the shooter may have had a history of behavioral issues and was no longer enrolled at the school.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced he would travel to Graz within hours to oversee the response and support local authorities. “This is a dark day for Austria. We will do everything in our power to uncover what happened and ensure the safety of our schools,” Karner said in a statement.
Austria, known for its relatively low rate of gun violence, is now grappling with a national moment of grief and shock.
National Mourning
Chancellor Elisabeth Leitner has called for a national day of mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast across all government buildings. “We mourn the young lives lost and stand in solidarity with their families,” she said. “We must come together as a nation to process this pain and prevent such horrors from ever happening again.”
Support services, including trauma counseling, are being provided to students, staff, and families affected by the attack. Schools across the country observed a minute of silence in the afternoon to honor the victims.
This is a developing story.