Former student shoots himself in toilet after unleashing terror on two classrooms – as 158 paramedics rush to scene and hospitals declare disaster alert
Ten people have been killed in one of Austria’s worst school shootings after a former pupil went on a rampage at a secondary school before taking his own life.
The bloodbath unfolded at BORG Dreierschützengasse High School in Graz on Tuesday morning when the gunman opened fire on two classrooms, shooting in circles before fleeing to a toilet where he killed himself.
Among those killed at the BORG Dreierschutzengasse school are at least seven students, said Graz mayor Elke Kahr, describing the attack as a “terrible tragedy”.
Austria’s second-largest city was plunged into chaos as Officers responded to the reports of “several” suspected gunshots at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse school in the northwest of the city at around 10 a.m. local time.
FORMER PUPIL’S RAMPAGE
The shooter, believed to be a former student at the school, unleashed terror by targeting two classrooms in what witnesses described as a methodical attack.
The gunman, reportedly a student at the school, opened fire in at least two classrooms before fleeing to a school toilet where authorities found his body.
Heart-stopping accounts emerged from inside the school, with a teacher describing being barricaded inside a classroom with students after hearing gunshots.
MASSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
An unprecedented emergency response saw 158 paramedics rush to the scene, supported by 31 crisis intervention staff and 65 emergency vehicles.
Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported that at least 10 others are injured, with victims being treated at the nearby Helmut List hall events venue.
The scale of casualties prompted authorities to issue a disaster alert for local hospitals, with reports that two hospital wards were already over capacity.
ELITE FORCES STORM SCHOOL
Austria’s crack Cobra special forces unit – the country’s equivalent of Britain’s SAS – was immediately deployed to the scene alongside regular police units.
Police dispatched regular units and the specialist Cobra tactical force, and a helicopter was deployed as part of the response.
By 11:30am local time, police wrote on social network X that the school had been evacuated and everyone had been taken to a safe meeting point. They wrote that the situation was “secured” and there is no longer believed to be any danger.
NATION IN MOURNING
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Austria, with Chancellor Christian Stocker immediately cancelling all appointments for the day.
The interior and education ministers rushed to Graz as the nation grappled with one of its worst mass shootings in history.
Mario Kunasek, governor of the Austrian state of Styria that includes Graz, expressed condolences to the victims. “As a father, I am deeply saddened by this insane act, which has caused so much harm and incredible suffering,” said Kunasek.
PARENTS’ AGONISING WAIT
In scenes of unimaginable anguish, parents rushed to the school as news of the shooting spread, desperate for news of their children.
Students who managed to escape the violent rampage were reunited with their families at secure meeting points established by police.
My thoughts are with the innocent victims, families and teachers”, Governor Kunasek added as the community reeled from the devastating attack.
CITY IN LOCKDOWN
Graz Mayor Elke Kahr called the incident a “terrible tragedy” as the city of 300,000 residents came to terms with the horrific violence.
Graz is Austria’s second-largest city and located around 200km from the capital, Vienna.
The BORG Dreierschützengasse is a well-regarded secondary school located about a kilometer from Graz’s historic center, making the violence all the more shocking for the tight-knit community.
INVESTIGATION BEGINS
As investigators work to piece together what led to the deadly rampage, questions are already being raised about school security and how a former student was able to carry out such a devastating attack.
police said in a statement: “A large-scale police operation has been underway in Dreierschützengasse since approximately 10:00 a.m.
The shooting marks Austria’s deadliest school attack and is likely to reignite debates about gun control and school security measures across Europe.
