Austria was thrown into mourning on Tuesday following a rare and deadly school shooting in the southern city of Graz, where 10 people were confirmed dead, including several students, an adult, and the suspected shooter.
According to Austrian news agency APA, Graz Mayor Elke Kahr confirmed the tragic toll while police and emergency services continued their investigation into the shooting, which occurred in the morning hours. The attack took place inside a school building, where gunshots reportedly rang out suddenly, causing panic among students and staff.
Austrian police confirmed the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Currently, a police operation is underway… Gunshots were heard in the building.”
The police added that the situation remained unclear in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Authorities have not yet provided information about the identity or motive of the shooter, who is believed to be among the dead.
Austria’s interior ministry and local police declined to comment further as investigations continued.
School shootings are far less common in Europe compared to the United States, but in recent years, a disturbing trend of non-terror-related school attacks has begun to emerge across the continent.
This latest tragedy in Austria comes just months after a similar stabbing attack in Slovakia in January 2025, where an 18-year-old killed a student and a teacher. In December 2024, a 19-year-old fatally stabbed a seven-year-old pupil in a Zagreb primary school in Croatia.
One of the deadliest attacks in recent memory occurred in December 2023, when a university student in Prague opened fire, killing 14 people and injuring 25 others. In May 2023, a 13-year-old in Belgrade, Serbia, shot and killed eight classmates and a security guard before being arrested.
These incidents, though isolated, have sparked growing concerns about safety in European schools and the rising influence of violent behaviour among young people.
Austria, a country of about 9.2 million people, has long enjoyed a reputation for peace and safety. It consistently ranks among the top ten safest countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
Tuesday’s attack has therefore come as a major shock to the public, with many Austrians expressing disbelief over the deadly violence within a school environment.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded to the news with deep sorrow, stating on X:
“Every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Austrian people in this dark moment.”
While details remain scarce, international media and European leaders have called for urgent attention to the safety of students and schools.
Austrian authorities are expected to release more details about the shooter, the victims, and the possible motive in the coming days. For now, police are urging the public to stay calm and allow emergency services to complete their work.
Back home in Nigeria, the shooting has sparked concern among parents and educators. Although such attacks are rare in Europe and almost unheard of in Austria, they serve as a grim reminder of the need for security in learning environments worldwide.
As Austria mourns its dead and begins to search for answers, the world watches closely—hoping that this tragedy remains an exception and not a trend.
