BBC Information
Ten individuals have been killed in a college capturing within the Austrian metropolis of Graz, in what’s the deadliest gun assault within the nation’s latest historical past.
Police mentioned the 21-year-old gunman, a former scholar, took his personal life in a college rest room shortly after.
The incident occurred at Dreierschützengasse secondary faculty within the north-west of town.
Six females and three males have been killed within the assault, in line with Inside Minister Gerhard Karner. An additional 12 individuals have been injured, some significantly, in line with police.
Afterward Tuesday, native media reported an injured feminine had died in hospital, bringing the variety of victims killed to 10.
Gunman was former scholar
The gunman, who has not but been named, was a former Dreierschützengasse scholar who did not graduate from the varsity, Karner instructed a information convention on Tuesday afternoon.
There was numerous hypothesis in regards to the case, Karner famous, including it’s now the job of the felony workplace to analyze.
In the identical convention, police mentioned the gunman’s motive was nonetheless beneath investigation.
Officers additionally confirmed the gunman was not recognized to police earlier than the assault.
Present data suggests the shooter legally owned the 2 weapons used within the assault and had a firearms licence, police added.
Native media shops have reported the suspect used a pistol and a shotgun to hold out the capturing.
He was an Austrian man from the broader Graz area who acted alone, police mentioned.
Three days of mourning
Three days of mourning have been declared in Austria, and a nationwide minute’s silence will probably be held on Wednesday at 10:00am native time in reminiscence of the victims.
Flags on the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the place the President Alexander Van der Bellen has his workplace, will fly at half mast.
The varsity the place the assault occurred will stay closed till additional discover, in line with Austria’s Training Minister Christoph Wiederkehr.
The Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker mentioned Tuesday was a “darkish day in [the] historical past of our nation” and declared the capturing a “nationwide tragedy”.
“A faculty is greater than only a place to be taught – it’s a house for belief, for feeling snug and for having a future,” he instructed the convention, including this secure place had been “violated”.
“In these troublesome hours, being human is our strongest level,” he mentioned.
Austria’s APA information company has reported that seven of these killed have been pupils.
The assault “strikes our nation proper at its coronary heart”, Stocker mentioned within the fast aftermath.
“These have been younger individuals who had their entire lives forward of them.”
Gunshots heard inside faculty
Police mentioned they started an operation at 10:00 native time (09:00 BST) after gunshots have been heard from inside the varsity.
A specialist Cobra tactical unit – which handles assaults and hostage conditions – was deployed to the varsity, police mentioned.
Authorities evacuated all pupils and academics from the constructing. Police confirmed the varsity had been secured and there was no additional hazard posed to members of the general public.
“Regionally, we now have seen individuals crying on the streets, speaking to buddies which were on the faculty when the capturing occurred, who’ve possibly misplaced a good friend,” mentioned Fanny Gasser, a journalist for the Austrian day by day newspaper Kronen Zeitung.
She instructed BBC Information “everyone is aware of anyone” on the faculty as a result of Graz – regardless of being the second-largest metropolis in Austria – is “not that massive”.
She mentioned the varsity was doubtless unprepared for the opportunity of an assault. “We’re not dwelling in America, we live in Austria, which looks like a really secure house.”
Native mayor Elke Kahr known as the incident a “horrible tragedy”.
European Fee Vice-President Kaja Kallas mentioned she was “deeply shocked” by the information. “Each little one ought to really feel secure at college and be capable to be taught free from worry and violence,” she posted on X.
Queues to present blood
By Tuesday afternoon, lengthy queues had shaped outdoors a blood donation centre in Graz.
“At present is a tough day for all of us in Graz. I am hear to [donate] my blood to assist different individuals who want it,” 25-year-old Stephanie Koenig instructed Reuters information company.
“At present I am right here as a result of I needed to do one thing. I felt helpless with the information,” Johanna, 30, mentioned.
One other particular person standing in line instructed Reuters giving blood felt just like the “solely means attainable to assist”.
