Graz School Shooting: 11 Dead After Ex-Student Opens Fire—Bullying Believed to Be Motive in Austria’s Darkest Day.
GRAZ, Austria — What started as a normal school day turned into a national nightmare on Tuesday morning, when a former student walked into his old high school in Graz and opened fire, killing 11 people and injuring more than two dozen others. Authorities now believe that years of bullying may have played a role in his deadly rampage.
Graz Shooter Name: The gunman, identified as Artur A., a 21-year-old Austrian citizen and former student of the school, reportedly moved through two classrooms with a long gun and a handgun—both of which were legally owned. He ultimately died by suicide in a school bathroom before police could apprehend him.
Among the victims were seven women and three men, including students and staff. More than 30 people were injured, with at least two still in critical condition as of Tuesday night.
“There are no words for the pain and grief that we all – all of Austria – are feeling right now,” said Chancellor Christian Stocker, who has declared a three-day period of national mourning. A minute of silence will be observed nationwide tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
A City in Shock: Graz Shooter Name
Graz, Austria’s second-largest city, has been left reeling. Outside BORG Dreierschützengasse, the secondary school where the tragedy unfolded, families waited through the chaos, clinging to each other as ambulances arrived and survivors fled the scene.
“I got a message from my son saying, ‘I’m okay,’” one mother said through tears. “But even now, I haven’t stopped shaking. You see these things on TV—you never think it’ll happen here.”
Eyewitnesses reported hearing two bursts of gunfire. One neighbor said he counted at least 15 shots before a pause, followed by another volley. Then, silence. “I called the police at 09:55,” he said. “Minutes later, there was one final shot.”
Who was the Graz Shooter?
While police have not yet confirmed a definitive motive, several Austrian outlets—including Salzburger Nachrichten and Kronen Zeitung—have reported that Artur A. had been bullied throughout his time at the school.
“He was quiet, always by himself,” a former classmate told reporters. “People picked on him. I don’t think anyone thought it would go this far, though.”
Graz Shooting Motive: A History of Bullying
One teacher, who taught Artur during his time at the school, recalled a student who struggled to connect. “He wasn’t aggressive. He was just isolated. That’s what I remember.”
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner acknowledged that bullying is being looked into as a possible trigger: “We’re investigating all possibilities, including social factors from his school years. This is a complex case.”
Legal Weapons and Chilling Intent
According to police, Artur A. legally owned both firearms used in the attack and held a valid firearms license. He was not previously known to authorities and had no criminal history.
Investigators say he returned specifically to classrooms he once sat in—one reportedly being his former homeroom. His movements were deliberate. The attack lasted less than 20 minutes, ending when he turned one of the weapons on himself in a restroom stall.
“He walked back into the same place he was humiliated,” a senior officer told local media. “It wasn’t random.”
Community Response: Blood Drives and Candlelight Vigils
As the city began to absorb the horror, Graz residents responded with acts of solidarity. The Austrian Red Cross set up emergency blood donation centers, including one at the JUFA Hotel. Football club Sturm Graz also opened its training ground to donors.
“All we can do is help however we can,” said club executive Thomas Tebbich. “It’s something small—but it saves lives.”
Austria Grapples with the Unthinkable
Austria has seen shootings before—most recently a 2020 terror attack in Vienna—but a mass school shooting on this scale is unprecedented. Graz is a university town known for its arts, architecture, and family-friendly culture. Violence of this kind is far from the norm.
“We don’t have school lockdown drills. We don’t check bags,” said journalist Fanny Gasser. “No one here was prepared for something like this.”
National and International Reactions
President Alexander Van der Bellen addressed the nation with a somber message: “These were young people who had their entire lives ahead of them. And now, their futures are gone. Our hearts break with their families.”
Across Europe, leaders expressed condolences. “Schools must be sanctuaries, not sites of fear,” tweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy added: “Our hearts go out to the people of Austria.”
What Comes Next: Graz Shooter
The school will remain closed indefinitely. Crisis counselors are on site, and a closed-door meeting between city officials, educators, and victims’ families was held Tuesday afternoon to discuss how to proceed.
Investigators continue to comb through Artur A.’s digital trail for signs of planning or ideology, though no manifesto has yet been discovered. Police say all indications suggest he acted alone.
People Also Ask (PAA)
Who was the Graz school shooter?
Artur A., a 21-year-old Austrian citizen and former student of BORG Dreierschützengasse who never graduated.
Why did he carry out the attack?
Though still under investigation, early reports suggest he may have been driven by years of bullying during his time at the school.
Were the guns used in the attack legal?
Yes. He owned both firearms legally and held a valid Austrian firearms license.
How many were killed and injured?
Eleven people were killed, including the shooter. At least 30 others were injured—two remain in critical condition.
Is this Austria’s deadliest school shooting?
Yes. It is believed to be the deadliest school-related shooting in Austria’s modern history.