On the morning of June 10, 2025, the Austrian city of Graz was plunged into mourning after a devastating shooting at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a secondary school in the city’s northwest. The attack, carried out by a 21-year-old former pupil who had not graduated, resulted in the deaths of 10 people and left more than a dozen others injured, some critically. This tragic event marks the deadliest school shooting in Austria’s post-World War II history and has sent shockwaves throughout the nation and beyond.
The suspect entered the school armed with two legally owned firearms—a pistol and a shotgun—and opened fire in two classrooms, one of which had once been his own. Police reports confirm that the shooting began shortly before 10 a.m. local time, with emergency services responding swiftly to the scene. The suspect was found dead in a school bathroom, having apparently taken his own life. Authorities have stated that the suspect had no previous criminal record and was not known to police before the attack.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner detailed the grim toll: six female and three male victims were killed at the scene, with a tenth victim succumbing to injuries later in hospital. Among the deceased were at least seven students aged between 14 and 18, and at least one adult, believed to be a teacher. Twelve other students sustained injuries, some serious, and were receiving treatment in local hospitals, with one patient reported to be in critical condition.
Police secured the school and evacuated all students and staff to a safe location, where crisis intervention teams provided support to those affected along with their families. The area surrounding the school was cordoned off, and public transport routes were diverted as heavily armed officers, including special forces and helicopter units, maintained a strong presence to ensure no further danger was posed.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker described the day as “a dark day in the history of our country,” expressing profound grief and announcing three days of national mourning. He called the shooting “an act of unimaginable violence” and a “national tragedy that has shocked us all.” Stocker also declared a nationwide minute of silence to be held at 10 a.m. on June 11, marking 24 hours since the first emergency calls were received.
Graz Mayor Elke Kahr echoed the sentiment, calling the attack a “terrible tragedy.” She spoke of the anguish experienced by families waiting anxiously for news of their children and expressed sorrow for the young lives cut short. Kahr revealed that the perpetrator had contacted his parents before the attack, confessing to having committed a serious offense, though no farewell note has been confirmed.
The shooting has sparked an intense debate over gun ownership in Austria, which has one of the highest civilian firearm ownership rates in Europe. According to the 2018 Small Arms Survey, Austrians own approximately 30 firearms per 100 people—more than double the rates in neighboring countries such as Czechia and Hungary. While machine guns and pump-action firearms are banned, pistols, revolvers, semi-automatic weapons, rifles, and shotguns are permitted under various licenses. Despite this, mass shootings remain rare in Austria, with only a few previous incidents such as the 2020 Vienna attack that killed four people.
European leaders and organizations have expressed their condolences and solidarity with Austria. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked, “It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence,” while European Council President António Costa described the attack as a “senseless act of violence.” French President Emmanuel Macron extended his deepest sympathies to the victims’ families and the Austrian people. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also offered their condolences.
Among the victims was a 17-year-old French student, confirmed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who extended thoughts and condolences to the family and friends affected. Vigils were held across Graz on the evening of the attack, with hundreds gathering in the city’s central square in a somber and nearly silent tribute to the victims.
The attack comes just days before the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Graz terrorist attack, a separate event in which three people were killed when a man drove a car into a crowd. Austria, often regarded as one of the safest countries globally, has seen few such violent incidents, making this tragedy all the more shocking.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The weapons used were seized and are undergoing forensic examination. Police maintain that the suspect acted alone, and no motive has been officially determined. Interior Minister Karner cautioned against speculation, emphasizing that only verified information would be released to protect the privacy of the victims’ families and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The community of Graz and the nation of Austria now face the difficult task of healing from this unprecedented tragedy. As Chancellor Stocker said, “In these difficult times, humanity is our strongest force.” The coming days will be marked by mourning, reflection, and a renewed conversation about safety, gun control, and the support systems needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.
