Austria mourns "dark day" after fatal school shooting in Graz updated / video

Austria has declared three days of national mourning after a devastating school shooting in Graz, the nation's second-largest city, which Chancellor Christian Stocker termed "a national tragedy that deeply shocks our whole country."

The somber announcement came as authorities confirmed a significant loss of young lives and a teacher, prompting widespread grief across the Alpine nation, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

In response to the horrific incident, Chancellor Stocker conveyed the profound sorrow gripping the country. "There are no words for the pain and grief that all of us — the whole of Austria — feel now," he conveyed in a statement posted on X, before heading to Graz. The national mourning period will see the Austrian flag lowered to half-staff, complemented by a minute of national remembrance at 10 am on June 11 (9 a.m. BST). Stocker unequivocally described the event as "a dark day in the history of our country."

President Alexander Van der Bellen echoed the sentiment of incomprehensible loss. "This horror cannot be captured in words," he stated, lamenting, "These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher who accompanied them on their way."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her condolences on X, emphasizing, "Schools are symbols for youth, hope and the future. It is hard to bear when schools become places of death and violence."

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, a substantial police presence converged on the scene. According to photos published by the regional media, numerous police and emergency vehicles cordoned off the area around the school, with at least one police helicopter hovering overhead. Graz, a city of approximately 300,000 inhabitants located in southeastern Austria, now grapples with the fallout of an event that has irrevocably shaken its community and the entire nation.

 17:16

The suspected perpetrator of the deadly shooting at BORG Dreierschützengasse school in Graz, which resulted in at least ten fatalities and dozens of injuries, has been identified as 22-year-old former student Artur A., who entered the school armed with a pistol and a shotgun.

Witnesses say he opened fire in two classrooms, causing chaos and panic. The building was immediately searched, and the perpetrator was found dead in a restroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Caliber.Az reports, citing Austrian media.

Authorities report that Artur A. had no prior criminal record and purchased the pistol just days before the attack. He reportedly viewed himself as a victim of bullying.

At least 28 victims have been hospitalised, with several in critical condition, some suffering gunshot wounds to the head.

Officials are continuing their investigation, and the motives behind the attack remain unclear.

16:31

A tragic shooting at Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, has left ten people dead and several others seriously injured, officials confirmed.

Among the fatalities are students and at least one adult, local police say, as reported by the BBC.

The perpetrator is also dead, the police added. 

A major police operation remains ongoing as authorities secure the scene.

🇦🇹 Avusturya'nın Graz şehrinde okula düzenlenen saldırıda 11 kişi hayatını kaybetti.

— Yeni Şafak (@yenisafak) June 10, 2025

Details about the shooter remain unclear. Local media suggest the attacker was a former student of the school, but official confirmation has not been released. The motive behind the shooting and whether the weapon used was legally or illegally obtained are still unknown.

The identities and ages of the victims have not yet been disclosed. Government officials are expected to provide an official update soon.