Ten people were killed on Tuesday after a suspected shooter opened fire at a school in Graz, Austria’s second-largest city. Among the dead were several students, at least one adult, and the suspected attacker, according to local mayor Elke Kahr.
The shooting unfolded in the southeastern city, prompting a massive police response. Authorities confirmed that officers were deployed after gunshots were heard inside the school building. “The situation is very unclear at the moment,” police sources told Austria’s APA news agency, as investigators worked to piece together the circumstances of the attack.
School shootings remain relatively rare in Europe compared to the United States, but the continent has witnessed several tragic attacks in recent years. In January 2025, an 18-year-old killed a student and a teacher in Slovakia. Just months earlier, in December 2024, a 19-year-old stabbed a seven-year-old to death at a Croatian primary school. One of the deadliest incidents occurred in Prague in December 2023, when a university student killed 14 people.
Austria, a peaceful Alpine nation of 9.2 million, ranks among the world’s safest countries. However, this attack has shattered its sense of security. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed deep shock, stating, “Every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence.”
The Graz shooting echoes past European tragedies, such as the 2009 Winnenden massacre in Germany, where a former student killed 15 before taking his own life. While motives in the latest attack remain unclear, the incident underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to prevent such violence.
As Austria mourns, questions linger about how such horrors can be stopped. For now, the focus remains on the victims, their families, and a community left in grief. The world watches, hoping for answers and for change.
