Hundreds of people poured onto the streets of Graz to pay respects to the victims of one of the worst mass shootings in Austria after the death toll rose to 11.
The gunman who opened fire on students and staff before taking his own life in a city school was a former student, police confirmed.
Authorities said the shooter, a 21-year-old Austrian national, opened fire with a pistol and a shotgun at the BORG school in Graz just after 10am local time.
Interior minister Gerhard Karner initially said there were six female and three male victims of the shooting, with 12 injured. Some of those injured were in serious condition. One of two critically injured adults died, Universitatsklinkum Graz Hospital said, taking the toll to 10.
The gunman took his own life in a bathroom at the school, police said.
Mr Karner said the shooter had licences for his guns and, therefore, owned them legally. He had attended the school but not graduated.
Chancellor Christian Stocker said there were no words to describe the pain being felt across the country in the wake of the attack.
Key Points
- Tenth victim dies in hospital
- Pipe bomb and note found at gunman's home
- Vigil held for 10 victims of school shooting
- Gunman opened fire with a shotgun and a pistol
- Chancellor calls three days of mourning after 'dark day in our history'
'This wasn't real': Teacher recalls fleeing school
09:30 , Rachel Clun, ReutersA religious studies teacher at the Borg school has spoken of his disbelief after the horrific shooting on Tuesday.
The incident was hard to properly take in, said Paul Nitsche, who left his classroom before the gunman tried to enter, and briefly saw him trying to shoot the lock off another door.
"This is something I couldn't even imagine before," he told national broadcaster ORF.
"That's what the situation was like as I ran down the stairwell. I thought to myself: 'This wasn't real.'"
A catastrophe in just 17 minutes
09:00 , Rachel ClunIt was just 17 minutes between police receiving the first emergency calls to declaring the scene safe, authorities said.
But in that time, the 21-year-old perpetrator had used a handgun and rifle to shoot more than 20 students and staff at the Borg school.
Ten are dead, and another 11 remain in hospital.
Austrian police said victims were found both outside and inside the school, on various floors.
The shooter, a former student who never finished his studies, was found dead in a toilet. Police believe he killed himself.
Austrian public transport to stop for a minute of silence
08:30 , Rachel ClunBuses, trams and trains in Austria will stop for a minute’s silence at 10am (9am BST) today.
According to Kronen Zeitung, all 900 vehicles will remain stationary for one minute to remember the victims.
If a vehicle is between stops, it will continue to the next stop.
Pipe bomb and note found at gunman's home
08:14 , Rachel ClunInvestigators found a farewell letter and a non-functional pipe bomb when they searched the home of the gunman who killed 10 people and injured more in a school shooting yesterday.
The 21-year-old Austrian man lived near Graz and was a former student at the BORG Dreierschutzengasse high school, in Austria's second-biggest city, who had not completed his studies.
Police have said that he used two weapons, a shotgun and a handgun, which he appeared to have owned legally.
Investigators said the note did not reveal the motive for the attack.
Franz Ruf, director general of public security, said investigations into the motive were moving swiftly.
"We don't want to speculate at this point," he told Austrian broadcasterORF on Tuesday night.
What do we know about the gunman?
07:29 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe gunman who opened fire in a school in Graz, killing 10 people before turning the gun on himself, has been identified as a 21-year-old Austrian national.
Police said they believed the shooter, who was found dead in a bathroom, had been operating alone when he entered the school with two guns and opened fire.
The gunman, who lived near Graz, was a former student of the BORG school and did not complete his education at the institution. Police did not release his name or specify when the man left the school or at what age.
Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf, told ORF the suspect had left behind a farewell letter, both in analogue and digital form, in which he said goodbye to his parents but gave no indication of a motive.
Mr Ruf said the perpetrator owned a shotgun and a handgun, and "he used both weapons", which were found at the crime scene.
Live: Austrian police at scene of deadly Graz school shooting
06:55 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarMore than 300 police rushed to shooting spot
06:43 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSpecial forces were among those sent to the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz yesterday around 10am local time after a 21-year-old gunman opened fire, killing 10 people.
More than 300 police officers were sent to the school, which was evacuated, the authorities said. Footage from the scene showed students filing out quickly past armed officers.
Police said security was restored in 17 minutes. Metin Özden was in his kebab restaurant near the school when he first heard police cars sped by, and then a police helicopter above.
He told the Krone newspaper: “I knew something bad had happened. … I’ve never seen so many emergency services in my entire life.”
Austria to observe a minute of silence today
06:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAustria will observe a nationwide minute's silence today at 10am local time in memory of the 10 people killed in one of the worst mass shootings in the country's recent history.
Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker said there would be three days of national mourning, with the Austrian flag lowered to half-staff.
The shooter opened fire at a school in Graz yesterday, fatally wounding 10 people before taking his own life, authorities said. Authorities earlier said another 12 people were wounded.
Gunman opened fire with a shotgun and a pistol
05:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe 21-year-old pupil who shot dead 10 people at a secondary school in Austria's second city, Graz, on Tuesday was armed with both a shotgun and a pistol.
Director General of Public Security Franz Ruf told state broadcaster ORF that victims were found outside and inside the school on various floors.
Police said they believed the shooter, who was found dead in a bathroom, had been operating alone when he entered the school with two guns and opened fire. His motive remained unclear.
The Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper said in an unconfirmed report that the suspect had opened fire on pupils in two classrooms, one of which had once been his own. It said he had been a victim of bullying.
In pics: People hold vigil for victims of school shooting
05:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Graz residents hold vigil for victims of school shooting
04:52 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHundreds of people poured onto the streets of Graz in Austria to hold a vigil for the 10 victims of a school shooting.
Authorities said the gunman, a 21-year-old Austrian national, opened fire at the BORG school in Graz, before turning the gun on himself."It shocked me a lot like everybody else," local resident Elisabeth Schuster was quoted by Euro News as saying.
"I’m with them, feel for them. And I hope that together we can find a way, so that something like this never happens again," she added, referring to the victims.
Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker, along with vice chancellor Andreas Babler and foreign minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger attended the mass at Graz Cathedral yesterday.
UN secretary-general condemns Graz shooting
04:51 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUN secretary-general Antonio Guterres is deeply shocked and saddened by the school shooting and strongly condemns "this senseless act of violence", his spokesperson said.
Mr Guterres extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people of Graz and the government of Austria.
He wishes a swift and full recovery to all those injured, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric added.
Austria minister calls shooting 'incomprehensible and unbearable'
04:29 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarAustria's foreign minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said in a post on X that she was deeply shocked by the shooting in Graz and also called the incident "incomprehensible and unbearable".
“My sympathy and grief go out to the victims and their families. No one can imagine the suffering, as a mother of three children, it breaks my heart," she said.
Full report | At least 10 dead in Graz school shooting with major police operation underway in Austria
03:00 , Jabed Ahmed
Watch: Gun shots heard in classroom as armed police storm building to rescue students
02:00 , Jabed AhmedShooting one of the deadliest attack in Austria’s postwar history
01:00 , Jabed AhmedTuesday’s violence appeared to be the deadliest attack in Austria’s postwar history.
Other attacks in the country include when four people were killed in Vienna in 2020 and the suspect, a sympathizer of the Islamic State group, also died in a shooting that stunned the Austrian capital. More than 20 other people, including a police officer, were wounded.
In 2019, a 25-year-old man turned himself into Austrian police after he killed his ex-girlfriend, her family and her new boyfriend in the Alpine resort town of Kitzbuehel.
Almost exactly 10 years ago, on 20 June 2015, a man killed three people and injured more than 30 when he drove through a crowd in downtown Graz with an SUV.
Austria's gun culture
Tuesday 10 June 2025 23:59 , Jabed AhmedAustria has some of the more liberal gun laws in the European Union.
Traditionally, many in the Alpine region go hunting, and it’s more common to carry a weapon for that purpose than for self-defence.
Some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns that must be reloaded manually after each shot, can be purchased in Austria from the age of 18 without a permit.
Gun dealers only need to check if there’s no weapons ban on the buyer, and the weapon is then added to the central weapons register.
Other weapons, such as repeating shotguns or semi-automatic firearms, are more difficult to acquire — buyers need a gun ownership card and a firearms pass.
Director of Public Security issues more detail on shooting
Tuesday 10 June 2025 23:00 , Jabed AhmedDirector General of Public Security Franz Ruf told state broadcaster ORF that victims were found outside and inside the school on various floors, adding the gunman had been armed with both a shotgun and a pistol, both found at the scene.
Ruf also told ORF the suspect had left behind a farewell letter, both in analogue and digital form, in which he said goodbye to his parents but gave no indication of a motive, which was still being investigated.
Everything we know so far about attack which killed 10 and injured 12
Tuesday 10 June 2025 22:30 , Jabed Ahmed
Everything we know about the Austrian school shooting that left nine dead
Residents hold vigil for victims
Tuesday 10 June 2025 21:59 , Jabed Ahmed
Austria enters three days of mourning
Tuesday 10 June 2025 21:29 , Jabed AhmedChancellor Christian Stocker has described the attack as “a dark day in the history of our country”.
Speaking at a press conference in Graz, Mr Stocker announced three days of national mourning and called for a minute’s silence at 10am (9am BST) on Wednesday.
He was joined by senior officials, including Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, as Austria begins to reckon with the scale of the tragedy.
The shooting happened inside two classrooms, local media reports
Tuesday 10 June 2025 20:59 , Jabed AhmedThe Salzburger Nachrichten reported that the attacker opened fire inside two classrooms, one of which he had previously studied in.
The newspaper, citing unnamed sources, said he was armed with both a pistol and a shotgun.
Police have not confirmed these details, but said the investigation was ongoing.
Farewell note found at suspect’s home - reports
Tuesday 10 June 2025 20:39 , Jabed AhmedPolice discovered a farewell note at the shooter’s home, according to Austria’s Kronen-Zeitung newspaper.
Authorities have not commented on the contents of the letter or whether it sheds light on the motive.
The paper did not specify when the note was found or who it was addressed to.
The attacker was a 21-year-old former pupil
Tuesday 10 June 2025 20:19 , Jabed AhmedPolice believe the shooter entered the school shortly after 10am local time carrying two firearms. He was later found dead in a bathroom.
While officials have not named the suspect, local reports say he was an Austrian national who previously attended the school.
Some media outlets have reported he may have been a victim of bullying, though this has not been confirmed by police.
Pictured | Memorial service takes place in Graz cathedral
Tuesday 10 June 2025 19:59 , Jabed Ahmed
Austrian football team captain pays tribute
Tuesday 10 June 2025 19:28 , Jabed AhmedDavid Alaba, captain of the Austrian national football team, has paid tribute to the victims of the attack.
Writing on X, he said: “I am deeply shocked by the terrible news from Graz.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this horrific and senseless act of violence.”
Austrian chancellor attends memorial service
Tuesday 10 June 2025 19:17 , Jabed AhmedAustrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler, Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner are attending a memorial service in Graz cathedral.
Austria's gun culture
Tuesday 10 June 2025 18:59 , Jabed AhmedAustria has some of the more liberal gun laws in the European Union.
Traditionally, many in the Alpine region go hunting, and it’s more common to carry a weapon for that purpose than for self-defence.
Some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns that must be reloaded manually after each shot, can be purchased in Austria from the age of 18 without a permit.
Gun dealers only need to check if there’s no weapons ban on the buyer, and the weapon is then added to the central weapons register.
Other weapons, such as repeating shotguns or semi-automatic firearms, are more difficult to acquire — buyers need a gun ownership card and a firearms pass.
Shooting one of the deadliest attack in Austria’s postwar history
Tuesday 10 June 2025 18:46 , Jabed AhmedTuesday’s violence appeared to be the deadliest attack in Austria’s postwar history.
Other attacks in the country include when four people were killed in Vienna in 2020 and the suspect, a sympathizer of the Islamic State group, also died in a shooting that stunned the Austrian capital. More than 20 other people, including a police officer, were wounded.
In 2019, a 25-year-old man turned himself into Austrian police after he killed his ex-girlfriend, her family and her new boyfriend in the Alpine resort town of Kitzbuehel.
Almost exactly 10 years ago, on 20 June 2015, a man killed three people and injured more than 30 when he drove through a crowd in downtown Graz with an SUV.
Adult injured in Graz attack dies, hospital says
Tuesday 10 June 2025 18:13 , Jabed AhmedOne more person has died after the shooting, Universitatsklinkum Graz Hospital said.
The hospital said the fatality was an adult.
Another adult remains in critical condition.
Watch: Gun shots heard in classroom as armed police storm building to rescue students
Tuesday 10 June 2025 17:58 , Rachel ClunPictured | Locals donate blood to help injured
Tuesday 10 June 2025 17:45 , Jabed Ahmed
Tenth victim of Austria shooting dies in hospital, media report
Tuesday 10 June 2025 17:35 , Jabed AhmedA 10th victim of the school shooting has died in hospital of their injuries, the newspaper Kronen Zeitung and the news agency APA reported.
We’ll bring you the latest developments.
Vigil being held at Graz cathedral
Tuesday 10 June 2025 17:28 , Rachel ClunA vigil for the victims of the shooting is being held at Graz cathedral this evening, according to local media.
The memorial service begins at 7pm local time (6pm BST).
France shares grief with Austria, after school tragedy of their own
Tuesday 10 June 2025 17:13 , Rachel ClunFrench President Emmanuel Macron has extended “full solidarity” to the victims and families of the Graz school shooting attack.
“Deep emotion after learning of the terrible attack in a Graz high school, which claimed the lives of several students and teachers,” Macron said on X.
“France extends its full solidarity to the victims' families, the Austrian people, and Chancellor [Christian Stocker] during this ordeal.”
It comes on the same day as France experienced its own school tragedy.
French authorities said a 14-year-old student had stabbed an educational assistant to death in a secondary school in the Parisian suburb of Nogent.
Macron said France was in mourning following the tragedy.
“As she watched over our children in Nogent, an educational assistant lost her life, a victim of an outburst of senseless violence,” he said.
“All of us stand with her family, her loved ones, her colleagues, and the entire educational community.”
Graz football team encourages locals to donate blood to help victims
Tuesday 10 June 2025 16:43 , Rachel ClunLocal football team, SK Strum Graz encouraged fans to go to the training centre on Wednesday to donate blood to support the victims.
“The horrific events at BORG Dreierschützengasse leave us with horror and sadness. Nothing can undo these horrific events – yet we all want to do our small part in this difficult time,” the team said on its website.
“Come to the Messendorf training center and donate blood – it saves lives! Graz stands together!”
But locals are already donating blood.
The Red Cross has set up a donation centre at the Jufa Hotel in Graz, and people have turned up to help the victims.
Police find note at home of shooter: reports
Tuesday 10 June 2025 16:29 , Rachel ClunPolice investigating the mass shooting at a Graz secondary school found a suicide note at the perpetrators home, local media reports.
Kronen Zeitung reports police searched the 21-year-old’s home this afternoon, and discovered a note he had left behind.
Police earlier said they believe the Austrian citizen killed himself in one of the school toilets after carrying out the horrific shooting.
Austrian flags flying at half mast to begin national mourning period
Tuesday 10 June 2025 16:13 , Rachel ClunAustrian president Alexander Van der Bellen said the country’s flags are now flying at half mast above the presidential office, beginning a national three-day mourning period.
Heute Nachmittag beginnt eine dreitägige Staatstrauer.
— Alexander Van der Bellen (@vanderbellen) June 10, 2025
Die Präsidentschaftskanzlei hat die Flagge der Republik auf halbmast gesetzt. pic.twitter.com/g0GcfHQ0Wf
Ukrainian president shares grief with Austria
Tuesday 10 June 2025 15:58 , Rachel ClunVolodymyr Zelensky has shared his condolences with Austria following the shooting.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic school shooting in Graz, which claimed many innocent lives. Schools should never become places of violence,” he said.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Austria. We wish a swift recovery to all those wounded. Ukraine shares this moment of grief with friendly Austria.”
Starmer: My thoughts are with the people of Austria
Tuesday 10 June 2025 15:43 , Rachel ClunUK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's "thoughts are with everyone affected and the people of Austria", his official spokesman says.
The spokesman adds that there's an ongoing police investigation, but the PM will give an update "when I can comment further".
In pictures: Graz reacts to school shooting
Tuesday 10 June 2025 15:28 , Rachel ClunThe shooting left nine victims dead and 12 others injured. The gunman killed himself in the toilet, police said.
It is one of the largest mass shootings in peacetime Austria.
Twelve people injured in the shooting
Tuesday 10 June 2025 15:10 , Rachel ClunAuthorities have confirmed 12 people were injured in the Graz shooting.
The Austrian Red Cross told Kronen Zeitung that nine of the injured victims were in a serious condition, and two were critically injured.
About 300 students and 200 parents were receiving support from the 220 Red Cross staff who were on site, the news outlet said.
Recap: What did we learn from the press conference?
Tuesday 10 June 2025 14:53 , Alex CroftHere is everything we learnt from the press conference with senior German politicians and police figures:
- Nine people were killed in the shooting in BORG school on Tuesday morning, including six females and three males.
- The shooter used two guns in the attack which he owned legally, and had not previously been on the police radar.
- The gunman was the tenth recorded death, and is believed to have died by suicide in the toilet.
- He was a 21-year-old Austrian who came from the Graz area and had previously attended the BORG school, but did not complete his studies.
- German chancellor Christian Stocker called a three-day national mourning period for what he described as a “dark day in the history of our country”.
