The festive atmosphere of a typical school morning turned into a scene of horror in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday morning, where a secondary school became the site of a tragic shooting that claimed the lives of 10 people.
A 21-year-old former pupil of the school is suspected of instigating the violence before taking his own life, leaving behind a community grappling with profound grief.
Local authorities reported that among the deceased are seven women and three men. The gunman, who police confirmed did not complete his studies at the institution, was found dead in a school restroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, as reported by National Public Radio (NPR).
His identity has not yet been released, pending police investigation.
In what has been described as a day like no other, at least 11 others were injured in the attack, with one remaining in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos that unfolded as the gunfire rang out in the hallways of Dreierschützengasse high school, igniting fear and confusion among both students and teachers.
Authorities quickly determined that the shooter used two firearms a rifle and a handgun both legally obtained, as he possessed the necessary permits.
There had been no prior connections to law enforcement, and it raises troubling questions about the ease of access to firearms in a country where gun ownership is common, with approximately 30 firearms for every 100 people.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker expressed the nation’s collective shock and sorrow at an afternoon press conference. ‘There are no words to describe the pain, the disbelief and the grief that all of Austria feels right now,’ he stated, calling for three days of national mourning. ‘Our country has fallen silent in horror,’
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Picture:@Pandeyshruti252 on X
