A horrific repeated incident of gun violence occurred at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse in Graz, Austria Monday morning. The series of events started at about 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), sending tremors of concern and horror rippling through the city and around the world. Law enforcement has reported that nine people died, with victims being as young as in their teens.
Graz, located in the northwest of Austria, has now witnessed one of the worst rampages in the nation’s history. Initial reports indicated eight fatalities. Officials later updated the death toll to nine, highlighting the severity of this tragic event. Gun violence is exceedingly rare in Austria, with a recorded firearm homicide rate of just 0.1 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said he was horrified by the shooting, in what he called a “national tragedy.” He conveyed the profound impact of the event on the nation, stating, “The rampage at a school in Graz is a national tragedy that has deeply shaken our entire country. This inconceivable act suddenly tore young people from the life they still had ahead of them.” His remarks underline the deep sense of loss felt across Austria following this horrific incident.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, addressed the tragedy, emphasizing the emotional toll such violence takes on communities. She stated, “It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence.” This feeling echoes what we hear from everyone trying to come to terms in the wake of the shooting.
As investigations continue, authorities have not yet released details regarding the shooter or potential motives behind this attack. The shocking nature of this incident has left residents in disbelief and mourning for the lives lost and forever changed.
