Austria School Shooting: At Least 10 People Killed
|The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.
A tragic mass shooting at a secondary school in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday claimed the lives of ten individuals, including nine students and one faculty member. Authorities reportedly said that the perpetrator is also dead and the school has been secured.
The shocking incident occurred at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a high school in the city. The authorities confirmed that the body of the assailant was found in a school washroom, though the individual's name and background have not yet been released. The police responded swiftly after receiving emergency calls reporting multiple shots being heard from the school. Students and staff were immediately evacuated and moved to secure locations, with officials confirming that there is no ongoing threat.
Austria maintains strict gun control rules requiring applicants to pass a fitness test, demonstrate competence through gun safety courses, and ensure secure storage for weapons. Weapons like pump or machine guns, high-capacity magazines, rapid-fire guns, and sound suppressors are restricted. Minors are prohibited from owning a gun, and non-European residents need a special permit to bring firearms into Austria. Despite this, Austria has one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates, with an estimated 30 firearms per 100 persons, according to the Small Arms Survey.
The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep sorrow, stating, "Schools are symbols of youth, hope, and the future. It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence."