A devastating school shooting shook Austria’s second-largest city on Tuesday, as nine people, including the suspected attacker, were confirmed dead at the BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz. Authorities and city officials have described the event as one of the worst school-related tragedies in the nation’s recent history.

According to Graz Mayor Elke Kahr, the incident resulted in the deaths of seven students and one adult staff member, while the ninth fatality was the shooter, believed to be a student at the school. Emergency services transported several injured individuals to local hospitals, although the exact number of wounded remains unclear.

The suspect reportedly died by suicide and was found in a school washroom after the attack. While early reports awaited confirmation, Austrian state broadcaster ORF cited local sources indicating that the shooter acted alone. The Interior Ministry had earlier stated there were “several fatalities,” without specifying numbers.

Police Reached the Location Swiftly

The shooting began shortly after 10:00 am local time. Police responded swiftly following multiple reports of gunfire at the school. Special operations units were dispatched immediately. By 11:30 am, law enforcement had evacuated the building, secured the area, and moved students and staff to a designated safe location. Authorities later confirmed that there was no ongoing threat.

Footage shared on social media showed police vehicles rushing to the scene and crowds gathering near the school. One widely circulated video depicted panicked students being ushered away as armed officers entered the premises.

One teacher, who was inside the building at the time, remained barricaded with her students during the attack. Her husband later told the press that she had heard several rounds of gunfire while sheltering inside a classroom. Parents of uninjured students were eventually allowed to reunite with their children, while emergency medical services tended to the wounded on-site.

The shooting comes just days ahead of the 10th anniversary of another deadly attack in Graz in 2015, where three people were killed in a vehicular rampage.

Graz, located roughly 200 kilometers southwest of the Austrian capital, Vienna, has a population of just over 300,000. The incident has reignited discussions around gun control, even though Austria enforces strict firearm regulations. Ownership requires passing a fitness test, attending safety courses, demonstrating secure storage, and undergoing background checks. Minors are not permitted to possess firearms, and non-European residents need special clearance to bring weapons into the country.

The investigation into the motive and background of the perpetrator remains ongoing, as officials work to understand how such a tragedy unfolded in a nation with rigorous gun laws.