Senior government and police officials provided further confirmed details Tuesday afternoon about the mass shooting at a secondary school in Graz’s Dreierschützengasse. Landespolizeidirektor Gerald Ortner said the attacker was a 21-year-old Austrian who legally owned two firearms—a long gun and a handgun. The man committed suicide in a restroom after opening fire.
“We were alerted by reports of shots and screams in a school,” Ortner told reporters at 3:15 p.m. The police immediately deployed over 300 officers, and EKO Cobra teams secured the building within 17 minutes, allowing emergency crews to enter.
Casualties and Medical Response
Eleven people died—six women and three men initially, plus one victim who succumbed to injuries at LKH Graz—and the shooter himself. Dozens more were injured, some critically; twelve were treated across three hospitals. At the University Hospital Graz (LKH), two adults and five youths received care from the Acute Medicine Center and the Pediatric Surgery Department; two remained in critical condition. At the Unfallkrankenhaus (UKH), four patients (three minors and one young adult) suffered facial, limb, and shoulder gunshot wounds; all are now stable but seriously injured. UKH activated its mass-casualty (“MANV”) protocol, calling in ten doctors and 16 nurses from off-duty and leave to handle the influx.
Transport and Crisis Care
Emergency transport was temporarily suspended, as is standard in such incidents, with non-urgent cases deferred. The Red Cross deployed over 160 responders and has so far cared for around 200 parents and relatives and 300 students. Uninjured children were moved to the nearby Helmut-List-Halle for crisis counseling and Red Cross support, while anxious parents gathered at the ASKÖ-Halle.
Motive and Investigation
The suspect, a former pupil who never graduated and was unknown to authorities, acted alone, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) said. Reports that he felt bullied, purchased weapons days earlier, or fired into two classrooms remain unconfirmed. A farewell letter found at his home—both in paper and digital form—offered no motive beyond a goodbye to his parents.
State Mourning and Memorials
Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) described Tuesday as a “dark day” and “national tragedy,” announcing a one-minute silence at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday and three days of state mourning through Friday. Flags will fly at half-mast, and all public events in Styria are canceled, Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) said. The Stephansdom’s “Pummerin” bell will toll at 10:00 a.m. for the nation’s minute of silence, and evening memorial services have been held at the Graz Cathedral and elsewhere. Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil on the main square.
Political and International Condolences
Interior Minister Karner and Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ) both visited the scene. Education Secretary Martin Netzer announced that school psychologists from across Austria will be in Graz Wednesday and that classes at the affected school remain suspended until next week, with alternative support provided at Helmut-List-Halle. EU Commission spokespeople in Brussels opened their midday briefing with “deepest condolences” for the “absolutely terrible and tragic news.”
