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The school shooting in Graz, Austria claimed 10 lives. The motive remains unclear, sparking national security concerns in Austria.

11 Jun 2025 2 min

A mass shooting at a high school in Graz, Austria, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, has shaken the public and marked the deadliest tragedy in Austria’s modern education history. A 21-year-old former student brutally killed nine victims on site, with another dying in hospital, before the shooter took his own life at the scene. In addition to the fatalities, more than a dozen others were injured, some in critical condition.

The school shooting in Graz has captured both national and international attention, as Austria has long been known as a country relatively free from gun violence. However, this incident shattered that perception and raised serious questions about gun ownership policy and early detection systems for mental health issues among students.

At 9:55 AM local time, the perpetrator, identified as Artur A., a former student of BORG Dreierschützengasse, entered the school carrying two legally obtained firearms: a Glock pistol and a shotgun. Within minutes, he opened fire in two classrooms. The school’s calm atmosphere turned into chaos as the sound of gunfire echoed through the hallways, forcing students and teachers to seek shelter and flee the premises.

Graz police responded with exceptional speed. No fewer than 300 officers and special units, along with 160 paramedics, were deployed to secure the scene and evacuate victims. In just 17 minutes, a massive evacuation was completed. Artur was found dead by suicide in the school bathroom, while at the scene and at the hospital, a total of 10 people were confirmed dead.

Artur A., a Graz native, had only recently obtained a gun permit a few weeks before the incident. Preliminary investigations revealed he had no criminal record. Police confiscated a farewell letter and a personal video addressed to his mother, indicating possible depression and motives of revenge, though the exact motive remains a mystery.

Some sources suggest the perpetrator had been bullied during his school years, but authorities are still investigating Artur’s psychological and social background. Officials also found an inactive pipe bomb at his residence, heightening concerns about potential further threats.

Most of the victims were students aged 16-18, with one adult believed to be a teacher. Several injured victims remain under intensive care, and the trauma has deeply affected both the school community and the city of Graz at large. The Austrian government declared three days of national mourning and held a nationwide moment of silence in schools the following day.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker called this incident the darkest day in Austria’s history. Various national and international figures expressed condolences and urged a total review of gun permit policies. This shooting serves as a national reflection point for the importance of mental health care and school

Austria is known to have one of the highest rates of gun ownership per capita in Europe, with about 30 firearms per 100 residents. However, school shootings have been extremely rare. This incident in Graz has reignited public and parliamentary debate over the need for tighter gun control and increased education on gun dangers among young people.

The Graz school shooting marks a new era of security concerns in Austria. The investigation is ongoing, as the public and government call for real change in gun regulation and mental health intervention. This case is a stark reminder that school safety must become a shared priority across Europe.