Son of Armenian father identified as lone gunman in deadly Austrian school attack

Authorities in Austria are grappling with the aftermath of a devastating shooting in Graz that claimed the lives of ten individuals, including children and a teacher, as new details emerge about the 21-year-old suspect, Arthur A., and his background.

The nation has entered three days of mourning, marked by a minute of silence across public transport networks, as investigations into the motive continue, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

According to revelations by the local media, the perpetrator, identified as Arthur A., is the son of an Armenian father and an Austrian mother. While he lived with his single Austrian mother in the Graz-Umgebung district, his father had not resided in the same household since the parents' separation. Arthur A. was reportedly a former student of the Dreierschützengasse school, though Interior Minister Gerhard Karner clarified that he did not graduate from the institution.

Prior to the horrific attack, Arthur A. sent a video to his mother, seeking her forgiveness. A poignant farewell letter also surfaced, in which he cited bullying at school as a factor and made a plea for the care of his cat.

During a subsequent search of the suspect's residence, Austrian police made a concerning discovery: an improvised explosive device (IED) and "apparently abandoned plans for a bomb attack," alongside a non-functional pipe bomb. It has also been confirmed that Arthur A. legally possessed the pistol and shotgun used in the rampage, holding a valid license for firearms.

In a somber display of national unity, Austria has declared three days of mourning. The victims include children aged 14 to 17 years and a 59-year-old teacher. Public transportation across the country, including approximately 900 vehicles of Vienna's Wiener Linien, halted for a minute today. The Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) also paused its television and radio programming in a tribute to those lost.

Police have confirmed that Arthur A. acted alone and are currently investigating a potential motive behind the tragic event.

By Vafa Guliyeva