Austria school shooting live updates: Nine dead after 'bullied pupil' launches shooting rampage at Austrian school, with 28 people seriously wounded
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Suspect in Austrian School Shooting Was a Loner Rejected by Army, Officials Say
A 21-year-old man suspected in a school shooting in Austria had previously been rejected from military service due to failing a psychological evaluation, a defense official revealed. The suspect, described as a socially isolated individual, had reportedly struggled with mental health issues. Authorities are now investigating how he managed to pass a separate psychological assessment required for a civilian gun permit. The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of Austria’s firearm screening procedures and raised questions about gaps in the mental health evaluation system.
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Austrian School Shooting Suspect Was a Reclusive Gamer Rejected by Army, Officials Say
The 21-year-old man suspected of killing 10 people in a brutal shooting at his former high school in Graz, Austria, had previously failed a psychological exam required for military service but later managed to pass one for a civilian gun permit — a fact now under intense scrutiny.
According to Col. Michael Bauer of Austria’s Defense Department, the suspect was rejected by the military after failing its psychological assessment. Despite this, he was later granted a firearms license following an evaluation by a civilian psychologist, raising serious questions about coordination and oversight between agencies.
At a news conference, police official Michael Lohnegger described the shooter as a "reclusive loner" who rarely engaged in social activities and spent most of his time immersed in first-person shooter video games. Investigators believe his isolated lifestyle and obsession with violent gaming may have contributed to his descent into violence.
The Austrian Interior Ministry has launched an investigation into how the suspect passed the firearms permit evaluation, particularly when military doctors had deemed him unfit for service. Colonel Bauer noted that the Defense Ministry is legally barred from sharing psychological evaluation results with other institutions, highlighting a potential loophole in Austria’s background check system.
The tragedy has ignited nationwide debate about gun control, mental health screening, and the digital influences on youth behavior. Lawmakers are expected to examine whether inter-agency communication and mental health evaluations for gun ownership need urgent reform.
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Austrian School Shooter Was Reclusive Gamer Rejected by Army, Lived With Mother, Officials Say
The 21-year-old man accused of killing 10 people — nine students and a teacher — in a horrifying shooting at his former high school in Graz, Austria, has been described by authorities as a deeply isolated individual with a fascination for violent video games, a troubled academic past, and a history of psychological instability.
Though Austrian privacy laws have prevented officials from naming the suspect, a profile has gradually emerged through police statements and local media reports. Authorities say the suspect, who was born and raised in Austria, lived with his mother in Kalsdorf, a quiet residential community south of Graz near the city’s airport. Police confirmed they searched her home on Tuesday, shortly after the attack.
The suspect is accused of carrying out Tuesday’s massacre using two weapons: a handgun and a sawed-off shotgun. After entering his former school, he opened fire, killing nine students and one teacher before fleeing. Authorities later stormed his apartment, where they found a nonfunctional pipe bomb and a detailed, handwritten plan outlining the attack.
Police say the man had twice failed the academic equivalent of the 10th grade, leading to his departure from the school where the massacre occurred. He reportedly led a reclusive life, rarely interacting with others and spending most of his time immersed in first-person shooter video games.
At a press briefing, Michael Lohnegger, the officer leading the police investigation, described the suspect as someone "unwilling to participate in normal activities outside in the real world."
More controversially, the suspect had failed a psychological evaluation for military service, a Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed, but was later able to pass a civilian firearms exam administered by a private psychologist — an issue now under urgent review by the Interior Ministry.
Col. Michael Bauer, a spokesman for Austria’s Defense Department, explained that the military is legally prohibited from sharing psychological test results with other government agencies, even in cases like this. That regulatory blind spot is now facing growing scrutiny.
The Graz tragedy has reignited Austria’s ongoing national debate around gun control, mental health screenings, and the digital influences shaping youth behavior. Lawmakers are expected to press for reforms in how psychological assessments for gun ownership are conducted and how inter-agency information is shared.
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Graz School Shooting: 10 Dead, Including 9 Students, in One of Austria’s Deadliest Attacks
GRAZ, Austria — A former student armed with a shotgun and a pistol killed ten people, including nine teenagers and a teacher, at a high school in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday, in what is now one of the country’s worst mass shootings in recent history.
Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the 21-year-old suspect, an Austrian national who had previously attended the school but failed to graduate, took his own life in a bathroom shortly after the attack.
Victims and Casualties
According to Graz police spokesperson Sabri Yorgun, the fatalities include nine students aged 15 to 17, and a female teacher. The number of dead rose from an earlier report of nine after one of the injured victims, a seriously wounded adult, succumbed to injuries at Graz University Hospital.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said that six of the victims were female and three were male. An additional 12 students were injured, several of them seriously.
Shooter Profile and Weapons
Authorities said the suspect acted alone and had no known accomplices. He used a legally obtained shotgun and pistol during the attack. Both weapons were seized at the scene and are now undergoing forensic analysis.
The suspect reportedly had a troubled academic history, having failed to complete the equivalent of the 10th grade at the school where the attack occurred. He lived with his mother in Kalsdorf, a town just south of Graz airport. A suicide note was discovered both in handwritten form and as a digital video message at his home, police said.
Psychological Background and Security Gaps
The suspect had previously failed a psychological exam for military service, according to Col. Michael Bauer of Austria’s Defense Department. Despite this, he later passed a separate psychological assessment required to obtain a civilian gun permit. Officials are now investigating how that discrepancy occurred, given that the military is prohibited by law from sharing psychological data with civilian agencies.
Police also found a non-functional pipe bomb and a detailed plan for the attack during the search of his residence.
Public Reaction and Mourning
The mass shooting has plunged Austria into national mourning. Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "There are no words for the pain and grief."
The motive for the attack remains unclear. Officials have not disclosed any ideological or personal triggers but confirmed the shooter had a history of reclusive behavior and an obsession with violent video games, spending extensive time isolated from peers.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities interview witnesses, analyze digital evidence, and examine the suspect’s background in greater detail.
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"A National Tragedy": Austria Reels After Deadly School Shooting in Graz
GRAZ, AUSTRIA – Austria is mourning the loss of ten lives after a devastating school shooting at the Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium Dreierschützengasse in northwest Graz, where a former student opened fire on Tuesday morning, killing nine students and a teacher before fatally turning the gun on himself.
The first emergency calls were made around 10 a.m. local time, reporting gunfire inside the school. Police responded swiftly, deploying special forces, multiple patrol units, and a helicopter to the scene. The school was evacuated and secured within hours, with authorities assuring the public there was no ongoing threat.
But the emotional toll was only beginning.
Victims and Chaos
Of the ten people killed, nine were students aged 15 to 17, and the tenth was a female teacher, police spokesperson Sabri Yorgun confirmed. One of the victims was a 17-year-old French exchange student, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said.
Twelve other students sustained injuries, some critically. One of the injured adults died later that evening at Graz University Hospital, raising the death toll to ten.
The sheer suddenness and scale of the violence shocked not just the city but the nation.
"The rampage at a school in Graz is a national tragedy that has deeply shaken our entire country," said Chancellor Christian Stocker, who declared three days of national mourning. "This inconceivable act suddenly tore young people from the life they still had ahead of them."
Shooter Identified as Former Student
The shooter, whose name remains undisclosed due to Austrian privacy laws, was a 21-year-old Austrian male who had attended the school but never graduated, having twice failed the academic equivalent of the 10th grade.
He used a legally obtained pistol and sawed-off shotgun to carry out the attack before committing suicide in a school bathroom, police said. Investigators later found a non-functioning pipe bomb, a handwritten attack plan, and suicide notes — both in writing and as a video message — at his home in Kalsdorf, south of Graz.
Authorities say he led an extremely isolated life, lived with his mother, and was deeply engrossed in first-person shooter video games. He had failed a psychological exam for military service but had passed a separate civilian exam to obtain gun licenses — a legal loophole that officials say will now be reviewed.
Shock, Grief, and National Reflection
As news of the shooting spread, spontaneous memorials and candlelight vigils began forming across Graz. In the city’s Hauptplatz (main square), hundreds gathered in near-silence on Tuesday evening, grieving in stunned solidarity.
"I keep thinking about the families, friends, and relatives who will never find an answer or explanation – and that’s just tragic," Graz Mayor Elke Kahr told CNN.
"There are 350 children at the school,” she added. “And one cannot fathom they had to wait for so long… the parents who didn’t know whether their child was still alive or not."
The European Union also responded to the tragedy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said:
"It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence."
Local residents expressed disbelief that such horror could unfold in their city.
"It was terrible for me because I also have five children, and one of my daughters went to this school,” said Doriz Prato, fighting back tears after attending a memorial service at St. Vinzenz Church.
"I am very upset that we now have situations in Austria that are so violent, so aggressive," echoed Eva Buchhalter-Heuss, another local.
Investigation Ongoing
Police continue to interview witnesses and examine evidence, including the firearms and the shooter’s digital devices. Officials have not released a motive, but investigators suggest the act was premeditated, pointing to the attacker’s notes and video message.
Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner pledged a full investigation into how the shooter obtained weapons legally, despite his previous psychological disqualification from military service.
A Nation in Mourning
As Austria observes three days of national mourning, the tragedy in Graz stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of safety in even the most ordinary places. In the words of one parent, “You send your child to school in the morning, and by noon, you’re planning a funeral. How do you recover from that?”
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