Austrian authorities are investigating the motive behind a tragic shooting incident on Tuesday at a high school in Graz, where a 21-year-old gunman killed 10 people before taking his own life. The assailant, armed with a shotgun and pistol, acted alone in what is described as one of the worst violent outbreaks in Austria’s history.
Police have been combing through the gunman’s home and online activities for potential clues while confirming that he had previously attended the school but never finished his studies. Reports suggest that he may have felt bullied, although this has not been officially validated. A farewell note was found, but it did not clarify his motivations. A non-functional pipe bomb was also discovered at his residence.
Witness accounts indicate the chaos and horror experienced during the attack. A religious studies teacher recounted narrowly escaping the gunman when he attempted to shoot through a door. The police response was swift, with about 17 minutes passing from the initial emergency calls to the scene being declared safe. Victims were discovered both inside and outside the school, and numerous others sustained injuries, some seriously.
In the aftermath, a national mourning period has been declared, uniting political factions in a rare show of solidarity. Community members gathered in Graz to memorialize the victims, laying flowers and lighting candles at the school. Many also queued to donate blood for survivors. Authorities continue to prioritize the investigation into the motive behind the shooting while grappling with the broader implications of such an act of violence in their society.
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