College students and adults are amongst 10 victims who had been killed after a gunman opened hearth at a secondary faculty within the Austrian metropolis of Graz.
Inside minister Gerhard Karner stated earlier {that a} additional 12 folks had been injured within the taking pictures on the BORG Dreierschützengasse highschool in Austria’s second-biggest metropolis.
Nonetheless Mr Karner gave the determine earlier than it was confirmed that an individual in hospital with life-threatening accidents had develop into the tenth individual to die. It’s not clear if this reduces the variety of these injured to 11.
The inside minister additionally stated the suspect was a former pupil of the varsity who did not end his research.
Police have stated the 21-year-old Austrian gunman was discovered lifeless within the bogs of the varsity after the shootings and was working alone.
Because it occurred: 10 killed in Austria faculty taking pictures
Authorities say he had two weapons, reported to be a shotgun and a pistol, which he appeared to have owned legally.
Police have stated they didn’t have details about his doable motive.
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Law enforcement officials stand guard close to a faculty following a lethal faculty taking pictures in Graz, Austria.
Pic: Reuters
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A person locations a candle on the entrance to the varsity after the lethal taking pictures, in Graz, Austria. Pic: AP Picture
Footage shared on-line revealed how gunshots and screaming might be heard after the gunman entered the varsity earlier than opening hearth.
French schooling minister Elisabeth Borne has stated that a kind of who died was a “young fellow citizen” of France.
It got here because the mom of a kid who survived the taking pictures retold the distressing second she obtained a telephone name from her son.
“My son called me to say he was in school and that he was being shot and that he thought he was going to die,” she stated.
“I’ve only found out now, two hours later, that he’s still alive.”
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A police officer makes a telephone name in entrance of a faculty constructing after the taking pictures. Pic: AP
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Law enforcement officials on the scene. Pic: AP
Particular forces had been amongst these despatched to the varsity, just below a mile from Graz’s historic centre, after a name at 10am native time (9am UK time).
Round an hour and half later, police wrote on X that the varsity had been evacuated and everybody had been taken to a protected assembly level.
Police deployed in massive numbers, with emergency autos guarding the realm across the faculty and with no less than one police helicopter flying above.
Graz, Austria’s second-biggest metropolis, is positioned within the southeast of the nation and about 300,000 stay there.
A ‘darkish day’
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker stated there could be three days of nationwide mourning, with the Austrian flag lowered to half-mast and a nationwide minute of mourning at 10am on Wednesday (9am BST).
He stated that it was “a dark day in the history of our country”.
President Alexander Van der Bellen stated that “this horror cannot be captured in words”.
“These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher who accompanied them on their way,” he stated.
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Law enforcement officials stand guard close to a faculty following a lethal faculty taking pictures in Graz, Austria.
Pic: Reuters
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Pic: AP
Nicely-wishers later lit candles and positioned them in the principle sq. in Graz metropolis centre on Tuesday evening as a tribute to the taking pictures victims.
Individuals had been seen quietly reflecting as town tried to return to phrases with the lethal assault.
The varsity the place the assault happened had earlier posted a message on Instagram following the tragedy.
The message is written in German, the official language of Austria, and interprets in English to: “It was a really terrible day that deeply impacted and affected us all.
“Allow us to proceed to face collectively as a faculty group and help each other.
“Your teachers and your principal.”