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Austria Reels After Deadliest Attack Since WWII: School Shooting Kills Ten

People lit candles on Tuesday in honor of the victims killed during a school shooting in Graz, Austria on Tuesday. (Photo: Darko Bandic/Ritzau Scanpix)

By Middle Land Staff

June 11, 2025
11:56 pm
Los Angeles, CA

On June 10, 2025, Austria is mourning the loss of ten lives following a devastating school shooting in Graz, which authorities have described as the country’s deadliest act of violence since World War II. The attack occurred on Tuesday morning at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a secondary school in the city of Graz. The shooter, identified as 21-year-old former student Artur A., entered the school armed with a legally acquired Glock semi-automatic pistol and a shotgun. He opened fire in two classrooms, killing seven students, one teacher, and later himself. Twelve others were injured, including two critically. Emergency services responded swiftly, evacuating the building and securing the scene within 17 minutes. Initial investigations suggest the shooter may have been motivated by personal grievances and had left behind what appears to be

The attack occurred on Tuesday morning at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a secondary school in the city of Graz. The shooter, identified as 21-year-old former student Artur A., entered the school armed with a legally acquired Glock semi-automatic pistol and a shotgun. He opened fire in two classrooms, killing seven students, one teacher, and later himself. Twelve others were injured, including two critically. Emergency services responded swiftly, evacuating the building and securing the scene within 17 minutes.

Initial investigations suggest the shooter may have been motivated by personal grievances and had left behind what appears to be a suicide note. Authorities are also exploring reports of bullying during his time at the school.

Austria, despite its relatively low rates of gun violence, has a high rate of civilian firearm ownership—nearly 30 firearms per 100 people, according to the Small Arms Survey. The country has strict regulations: automatic and pump-action firearms are banned, while revolvers, pistols, and semi-automatic weapons are permitted only with a license. Rifles and shotguns can be owned by individuals who hold a firearms license, a valid hunting permit, or are members of registered shooting clubs.

This tragedy follows a 2020 terrorist attack in Vienna, in which a gunman with ties to the so-called Islamic State (IS) killed four people and injured 22. However, the scale and setting of Tuesday’s school shooting have shocked the nation and prompted calls for tighter restrictions on firearm access.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed her condolences, saying she was “deeply shocked by the news of the school shooting in Austria. Every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence.”

The Austrian government has declared a three-day national mourning period. Flags are flying at half-staff, and moments of silence are being observed in schools and public institutions across the country.

As families grieve and survivors recover, the nation is left grappling with difficult questions about security, mental health, and the ease of access to deadly weapons.

The attack resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including seven students, one teacher, and the perpetrator, who died by suicide. Additionally, 12 others were injured, with two in critical condition. The shooting took place in two classrooms, with approximately 40 shots fired. Students and staff were evacuated, and the area was secured within 17 minutes of the first responders’ arrival. A disaster alert was issued for nearby hospitals, and the Helmut List Halle was repurposed as an emergency triage center for the injured.

Investigations suggest that the shooter may have been a victim of bullying, and a possible suicide note was found at his residence. Authorities are continuing to examine the motive behind the attack. The Austrian government declared a three-day mourning period in response to the tragedy.

This incident marks the deadliest school shooting in Austria’s history.

Austria has approximately 30 civilian firearms per 100 people, according to the Small Arms Survey.

While the country bans automatic weapons and pump-action guns, it permits revolvers, pistols, and semi-automatic firearms with a valid license. Rifles and shotguns are allowed for licensed firearm holders, those with a valid hunting permit, or members of shooting clubs.

In 2020, a gunman affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (IS) killed four people and injured 22 in a shooting in central Vienna.

The school shooting on Tuesday is believed to be the deadliest attack in Austria since the end of World War II.