Shots fired at a school in Austria: at least 10 dead and many injured

Steph Deschamps / June 13, 2025

Gunfire killed several people, including the presumed assailant, and seriously injured others at a school in Graz on Tuesday, in southeastern Austria, according to the Ministry of the Interior cited by public television.

“Several special intervention units are on the scene,” said the police on X, referring to ‘shots fired’. According to Austrian media outlet Kronen Zeintung, the gunman opened fire in two of the school's classrooms. He was carrying two weapons at the time of the attack: a shotgun and a handgun.

According to the daily, it was “one of the worst mass shootings in the country's history”. At least 10 people died, including 7 students, one adult and the alleged shooter, a 22-year-old former student who considered himself a victim of harassment. He was reportedly found dead in one of the toilets.

Several other people were injured, at least 28 of them, with a dozen in serious condition. Some of the victims were shot in the head, including students and teachers at the school.

The Austrian Red Cross reports that 65 ambulances, 158 paramedics and 31 law enforcement officers are on the scene. This number is set to rise in view of the large number of people injured. Shortly after 12 noon, the Austrian police declared that the situation around the school was now safe.

The country will observe three days of national mourning. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker on Tuesday deplored “a national tragedy”. “This is a dark day, an unthinkable excess of violence,” the head of government told reporters in Graz, the southeastern city where the tragedy took place. After committing the crimes, the assailant killed himself in a toilet, according to the police.

Flags on official buildings will be flown at half-mast.