Austria Reels as Graz School Shooting Claims 10 Lives
The city of Graz, Austria, woke up to unimaginable tragedy on June 10, 2025. Shots rang out at Dreierschützengasse secondary school, turning a routine morning into pure horror. A 21-year-old former student, whose name has not yet been made public by authorities, walked the path so many kids take every day—but this time, he carried two firearms, both legally owned. He opened fire outside before storming inside, deliberately heading to the second floor and targeting two classrooms. In less than fifteen minutes, he had fired about forty rounds, leaving 10 people dead and 11 more wounded. After the violence, he turned the gun on himself in a school bathroom, ending his life before police could reach him.
The scene was pure chaos. Students hid wherever they could. Some tried desperately to lock classroom doors or barricade themselves with desks. Mark Nolden, a local student, summed up the shock everyone felt: nobody imagined this kind of violence could happen here. One teacher’s husband described hearing from his wife that she and her class were trapped, holding their breath in silence, hoping to go unnoticed. Outside, sirens sliced through the air. Shopkeepers nearby watched as streets filled with armed police, many in tactical gear, moving swiftly to clear and secure the sprawling building.
Massive Response as Community Grapples with Fear
It didn’t take long for emergency responders to flood the area. Nearly 300 police, including the elite Einsatzkommando Cobra tactical team, arrived. Paramedics and firefighters—over 160 in total—worked with grim speed, carrying stretchers, setting up triage zones, and helping terrified children reunite with parents. Area hospitals switched into disaster mode, bracing for a surge in patients. Teachers and students huddled together in corners, waiting for the all-clear as police methodically combed each floor to be sure no further threat remained. By 11:20 AM, authorities had the situation under control.
As news spread, disbelief turned to grief, then anger. The governor of Styria, Mario Kunasek, called the event “incomprehensible.” Not far behind, Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger shared her heartbreak for the victims’ families. Politicians, religious leaders, and local celebrities all echoed a single sentiment: this should never have happened.
People wasted no time coming together. Thousands gathered in Graz’s central square for a solemn candlelight vigil. Many found themselves quietly reflecting on how the country, typically known for its safety, was experiencing its deadliest act of mass violence in modern memory. Organizers of the Nova Rock Festival, a major annual event in Austria, announced a minute’s silence to honor the victims. The choice to pause such a big celebration reflected just how deeply the wounds cut.
The attack’s shadow grew even longer as many remembered another dark day for Graz. It happened nearly ten years ago—a deadly car attack in 2015 that killed three—and still lingers in the city’s collective memory. The timing of this shooting has opened old scars and left families grappling with fresh grief. While rumors circulated about the shooter’s possible motives, including bullying, authorities have yet to confirm any details. What is certain: the city, and the entire country, faces tough questions about safety, mental health, and how to heal after such a shattering event.
Tough conversations are happening across Austria. Parents are demanding answers about school security. Politicians face scrutiny over firearm regulations. Meanwhile, experts warn of the risk that trauma might ripple beyond Graz, affecting anyone who calls Austria home. For now, Graz mourns, searching for comfort and understanding in the aftershock of yet another senseless tragedy caused by a Graz school shooting.
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