In a shocking incident that has plunged Austria into mourning, police revealed that abandoned plans for a bomb attack were discovered at the residence of the suspected shooter, a 21-year-old former student of the Dreierschützengasse secondary school. The grim findings, uncovered during a search, included a non-functional pipe bomb, a farewell letter, and a video recording.
The grim shooting, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in the tragic deaths of ten individuals, marking it as the deadliest school attack in Austria's recent history. The victims included nine students, aged between 14 and 17, along with a teacher. Among them was a Polish citizen, while the rest were Austrian nationals. The assailant, who took his own life in a school bathroom shortly after the attack, had not been recognized by the authorities prior to this crisis.
Residents of Graz are reeling from the tragedy, with many reflecting on their personal connections to the victims. One local, Tores, shared heartbreak as she recounted her connection to a 17-year-old boy who was killed. "I rang immediately, to ask if everything is OK. Then they let me know at midday, that the boy was one of those slaughtered," she recounted emotionally.
In the wake of the shooting, a nationwide minute of silence was observed, and flags were flown at half-mast to honor the victims. The Austrian government has also announced three days of mourning. Increased security measures at schools have been implemented in Graz as detectives work to piece together the motivations behind this harrowing incident.
Authorities have revealed that the attacker legally possessed two firearms, a pistol, and a shotgun, along with having a valid firearms license. While the gunman was a former student of the school, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner indicated he did not complete his studies there. The suspect, who had lived with his mother following parental separation, remains unnamed as investigations continue.
The grim shooting, which occurred on Tuesday, resulted in the tragic deaths of ten individuals, marking it as the deadliest school attack in Austria's recent history. The victims included nine students, aged between 14 and 17, along with a teacher. Among them was a Polish citizen, while the rest were Austrian nationals. The assailant, who took his own life in a school bathroom shortly after the attack, had not been recognized by the authorities prior to this crisis.
Residents of Graz are reeling from the tragedy, with many reflecting on their personal connections to the victims. One local, Tores, shared heartbreak as she recounted her connection to a 17-year-old boy who was killed. "I rang immediately, to ask if everything is OK. Then they let me know at midday, that the boy was one of those slaughtered," she recounted emotionally.
In the wake of the shooting, a nationwide minute of silence was observed, and flags were flown at half-mast to honor the victims. The Austrian government has also announced three days of mourning. Increased security measures at schools have been implemented in Graz as detectives work to piece together the motivations behind this harrowing incident.
Authorities have revealed that the attacker legally possessed two firearms, a pistol, and a shotgun, along with having a valid firearms license. While the gunman was a former student of the school, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner indicated he did not complete his studies there. The suspect, who had lived with his mother following parental separation, remains unnamed as investigations continue.
