by Temitope Oladeji
10/6/2025
A tragic mass shooting unfolded Tuesday morning at a secondary school in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, leaving at least 10 people dead, including the suspected shooter.
According to city officials and police, this marks the country’s deadliest mass shooting outside of wartime.
The attack occurred at BORG Dreierschutzengasse, a high school in Graz, the capital of Styria province.
Police were called to the incident around 10 a.m. local time after gunfire was reported on the school grounds.
Graz, located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of Vienna, is known for its cultural landmarks and vibrant student population.
With a population exceeding 300,000, the city is home to a diverse community, including significant numbers of Croatians, Romanians, Germans, and Bosnians.
Austrian news agency APA reported the death toll, citing Mayor Elke Kahr, who confirmed that the suspect was among the deceased.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated that the victims included six women and three men. In addition to those killed, at least 30 others were injured.
It remains unclear whether the status of the casualties was primarily students, staff, or others present at the school.
Local Austrian media outlets Kurier and Salzburger Nachrichten identified the gunman as a 22-year-old former student of the school. Reports suggest he had previously been bullied.
Armed with a pistol and a shotgun, he allegedly targeted two classrooms, one of which he had once attended.
According to APA and Kronen Zeitung, the shooter was found dead in a school bathroom. Authorities believe he acted alone, as confirmed in a statement posted by the local police on X.
Investigations are currently ongoing as Austria grapples with the shock of this unprecedented act of violence which is seen as the biggest mass shooting in the country’s history.