Graz school shooting: Grief and shock in Austria's second city
There is shock, sadness and disbelief in Graz, after the worst shooting in modern Austrian history left 11 people dead, including the gunman."We never could have imagined that this could have happened here, in our place. It's a sad day for the whole city," said Reka, who lives close to the school.For many years, Austria had been spared the pain of mass school shootings.But that all changed at about 10:00 on Tuesday when a former student ran amok at a secondary school in the Dreierschützengasse, close to the main station in Austria's second largest city.Morning classes were under way when the attack took place. Some students at the school would have been taking their final exams.It took police 17 minutes to bring the situation under control.
By the time it was over six female victims and three males had died. Hours later, a seventh female victim, an adult woman, died in hospital. Several others remain in hospital, some with critical injuries.The gunman, a 21-year-old Austrian citizen with two firearms, took his own life at the school.A former pupil who never passed his final exams, he is reported to have seen himself as a victim of bullying.
Local resident Reka told me she couldn't understand how an attack like this could have happened in her well-ordered city."This area is quiet, safe and beautiful," she said. "People are nice, the school is good."Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen said: "This horror cannot be put into words. What happened today in a school in Graz, hits our country right in the heart. These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher who accompanied them on their way."He said there was "nothing at this moment that can alleviate the pain that the parents, grandparents, siblings and friends of those murdered are feeling".
Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker, who rushed to the scene with the Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, called it "a national tragedy, that had shaken the entire country." He said there were no words to describe "the pain and grief that we all – the whole of Austria – is feeling".Three days of mourning have been declared in Austria. Flags on the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, where President van der Bellen has his office, will fly at half-mast.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.But school shootings here are rare. There have been a few incidents over the years that have involved far fewer casualties:In 2018 a 19-year-old was shot by another youth in Mistelbach, north of ViennaIn 2012 in St Pölten, a pupil was shot dead by his fatherIn 1997, in Zöbern, a 15-year-old killed a teacher and seriously injured anotherAnd in 1993 a 13-year-old boy in Hausleiten seriously injured the head teacher and then killed himself.Austria's most violent gun attack in recent years took place in the heart of Vienna in November 2020. Four people were killed and 22 injured when a convicted jihadist ran through the centre of the city opening fire, before he was eventually shot by police.Machine guns and pump action guns are banned, while revolvers, pistols and semi-automatic weapons are allowed only with official authorisation. Rifles and shotguns are permitted with a firearms licence or a valid hunting licence, or for members of traditional shooting clubs.The Graz gunman is understood to have owned both firearms legally, and he had no criminal record. One of his guns was bought only the day before the attack, according to one report.Outside the school, a young man on a bicycle watched as the police allowed security vehicles through the security cordon round the school."It's horrific," he told me. "This is my home. I can't understand how so many people my age are dead. This shouldn't happen here."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf to be deposed over mysterious 2023 shooting that injured two fans
An Illinois judge has ordered long-time Chicago White Sox owner and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to be deposed as part of a lawsuit over a 2023 shooting at the team's home stadium, Rate Field. The White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority were sued in August of 2024 by two women alleging they were injured by gunfire while seated in the bleachers at Rate Field. The lawsuit claims the gun was fired inside the ballpark and accuses the team of negligent security practices. The plaintiffs have not been identified publicly. Reinsdorf is expected to be questioned about his comments in the days after the shooting as well as his decision against calling off the remainder of the game, according to the Chicago Tribune. The team did cancel a post-game Vanilla Ice performance scheduled for later that night as a result of the shooting. Daily Mail has reached out to White Sox spokespeople for comment. The facts of the case remain murky and it's still not entirely clear if the gun was actually fired inside Rate Field or the area surrounding the stadium. Two unidentified women were reportedly injured after a gun went off during the team's 12-4 loss to the Athletics on August 25, 2023. At the time, ESPN Chicago's Peggy Kusinski reported the shooting was accidental, adding that one woman was 'grazed' after allegedly sneaking the firearm into Rate Field 'in the folds of her belly fat.' However, an attorney has since told the Tribune that his client did not bring the gun into Rate Field. 'We have reviewed photographic evidence and X-rays of our client's injuries with firearms and medical experts who confirm the gunshot wound our client sustained was not self-inflicted and was not the result of her accidentally discharging a firearm,' attorney John Malm told the Tribune in 2023. Reinsdorf agreed with that assessment soon after. 'They're still investigating,' Reinsdorf said in 2023. 'I don't want to get into specific facts while they're investigating but have really done a deep dive into this and I don't see any way in the world that the shots could have come from inside the ballpark. 'Let's let the police continue with their investigation. At this point all the superintendent is prepared to say is they have not ruled out that they came from outside the ballpark.' Reinsdorf also spoke with Chicago PD's Fred Waller, who echoed those comments in a statement of his own. 'We're dispelling a lot of things,' he began. '[A shot] coming from outside is something we've almost completely dispelled. We're still looking at every avenue. It's still under investigation. Something from inside, it could've happened that way. We're looking at every avenue, exploring every lead and everything that we can get.' Rate Field is owned by the state of Illinois, but security is handled by private contractors. Reinsdorf, 89, is in the process of selling the club to Justin Ishbia, the brother of Poenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia. The team announced the deal earlier this month. Ishbia will make capital infusions to the team as a limited partner in 2025 and 2026 in order to pay down existing club debt and support ongoing team operations. Under the agreement, Reinsdorf has the option to sell controlling interest to Ishbia from 2029 to 2033, after which Ishbia can obtain a majority stake.
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Two more men charged after teenage boy shot in Corby
Two more men have been charged after a teenage boy was shot two months ago. Northamptonshire Police was called to reports that a 17-year-old boy had been seriously injured at Hazel Wood near Westcott Way in Corby just after 16:30 BST on 11 Quittenton, 75, and Sam Stimpson, 37, both of Brambleside Court, Kettering, were charged with assisting an offender and are due to appear in Northampton Magistrates' Court on 26 June. Matas Sukaitis, 20, of Chaucer Close, Corby, was charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possession of a blade, in May. Mr Sukaitis was remanded into custody and he will appear at Northampton Crown Court on 30 June. Northamptonshire Police previously said the victim was expected to make a full recovery. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- The Sun
Man in 40s shot dead outside Costco in broad daylight horror
COPS raced to the scene of a fatal shooting outside of a busy Costco. The horrifying attack took place in broad daylight and took the life of a 40-year-old man. 3 3 The shooting took place at 5pm on Thursday evening outside of Costco in Croydon. Paramedics treated the victim at the scene but were unable to revive him. His family have been informed and detectives from the Met's Major Incident team have launched an investigation. Speaking about the incident, Detective Chief Inspector Dan Whitten said: "This was a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the man's family at this difficult time. "Our team of specially trained officers are supporting them as are our investigation progresses. "Our enquiries are ongoing and we would urge any witnesses to come forward and share information with us." "Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has any information that could help the investigation, please contact the police on 101 quoting CAD 6530/19JUN. "To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. 3
