A horrific mass shooting at BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school in Graz, Austria, claimed at least 10 lives and injured up to 30 people on Tuesday morning.

The attacker, identified as a 22-year-old former student, opened fire in two classrooms around 10 a.m. local time before taking his own life with one of his legally owned firearms.

Authorities confirmed the victims include several students, a teacher, and the gunman. The assailant was armed with a registered pistol and shotgun. Police and special forces, supported by helicopters, swiftly secured the area, declaring no further threat to the public by 11:30 a.m.

Emergency services, including over 160 Austrian Red Cross personnel, responded rapidly. Injured victims, some in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals, while students and staff were evacuated. Families were directed to a nearby sports hall, where crisis intervention teams are providing support. The school and surrounding areas remain cordoned off, with public transportation rerouted and armed officers patrolling nearby streets.

The motive for the attack is under investigation, with authorities examining the gunman’s background. Austria, which has a high civilian gun ownership rate of about 30 firearms per 100 people, allows pistols and semi-automatic weapons with permits, though mass shootings are rare. The country last faced significant gun violence in 2020, when a terror-related shooting in Vienna killed four lives.

Austrian leaders expressed profound grief. Chancellor Christian Stocker called the attack a “national tragedy” that has “deeply shaken our entire country,” urging compassion and unity. President Alexander Van der Bellen said the loss of young students and a teacher had “struck our country at the heart.”

International condemnation followed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the violence at a school—a symbol of “youth, hope, and the future”—unbearable. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed shock, stressing that “every child should feel safe at school.” Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig called for societal unity against hate and violence.

As Austria mourns, investigations continue into how this devastating attack was carried out, leaving a nation grappling with grief and questions. (ILKHA)