GRAZ, Austria Authorities have revealed that the suspected gunman behind Austria’s deadliest school shooting in modern history had abandoned plans for a bomb attack, according to police. The disturbing discovery was made during a search of the attacker’s home, alongside a non-functional pipe bomb, a farewell letter, and a video recording.
The 21-year-old former student whose identity has not yet been released opened fire at Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz on Tuesday, killing 10 people and injuring 11 others before taking his own life in a school bathroom. The tragedy has shocked the nation and prompted increased security at schools across the city.
Victims Include Students and a Teacher
Among the victims were nine students aged 14 to 17 and one female teacher. Seven were female, and three were male. One of the victims was of Polish nationality, while the rest were Austrian citizens. An additional seven females and four males suffered injuries, though police report none are currently in critical condition.
The attacker used two legally owned firearms a pistol and a shotgun and held a valid firearms license. Investigators have confirmed that the weapons will undergo forensic examination.
Suspect Lived With Mother, Was Not Previously Known to Authorities
Police say the suspect was born in the region of Styria and lived with his Austrian mother in the Graz-Umgebung District. His Armenian father has reportedly not been in contact with the family since the parents separated. The gunman did not graduate from the school and was unknown to law enforcement prior to the attack.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed that the investigation will continue in the weeks ahead. Authorities plan to analyze electronic data and conduct hundreds of witness interviews. The entire event will also be reconstructed in detail to clarify how the shooting unfolded.
Quick Police Response Credited With Saving Lives
According to Styrian police, officers arrived at the school just six minutes after the first emergency call was made at 10:00 a.m. A rapid response unit followed, and Austria’s elite Cobra tactical team trained for high-risk operations arrived by 10:17 a.m. Officials believe the swift intervention likely prevented even greater loss of life.
In the aftermath of the shooting, security has been ramped up at schools throughout Graz. Local reports say crisis support centers have been set up near the school to provide mental health care for victims’ families, students, and staff.
Eyewitness Accounts Paint a Harrowing Picture
Paul Nitsche, a religion teacher who narrowly escaped the shooting, described his terrifying experience. “I heard the shots while working upstairs,” he told AFP. “When I looked out, I saw the shooter trying to blow open a classroom door with his gun. I didn’t wait around I ran.”
Nearby residents also described the chaos. Astrid and Franz, who live in an apartment complex adjacent to the school, said they heard as many as 40 gunshots. “We saw a student at a window, ready to jump but he went back inside,” Franz told the BBC.
National Mourning and Public Grief
The Austrian government has declared three days of mourning, and flags have been lowered to half-mast across all public buildings. A nationwide minute of silence was observed at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in memory of the victims.
In Graz’s main square, hundreds gathered in silence. One local woman, Tores, shared her personal grief with BBC News. “I knew one of the boys who died. He was just 17,” she said, visibly emotional. “I called the family immediately when I heard. By midday, they confirmed he was one of those slaughtered.”
Austria’s Deadliest School Shooting in Recent Memory
This tragedy marks the deadliest school-related mass shooting in Austrian history. While Austria has witnessed mass shootings in the past, none have involved such a high number of young victims.
In 2020, a jihadist gunman killed four people and injured 23 others in a terrorist attack in Vienna. And in 2016, a man opened fire at a concert in Nenzing, killing two before taking his own life.
A Nation in Shock, A Community in Mourning
As investigators continue to search for a motive and piece together the shooter’s intentions including the disturbing evidence of a planned bomb attack Austria is grappling with grief, fear, and unanswered questions.
The focus now shifts to understanding the root causes of such violence, reviewing firearm regulations, and ensuring school safety measures can prevent future tragedies. For the families who lost loved ones, the pain is immeasurable but the solidarity across Austria has made one thing clear: this loss is shared by a nation.
