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Austria in mourning: mass shooting in Graz shocks the country
After the rampage in Graz, a minute of mourning will be held throughout Austria on June 11, 2025 to commemorate the victims.
Austria in mourning: mass shooting in Graz shocks the country
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, a shooting spree in Graz shocked Austrian society: a 21-year-old man, armed with two firearms, killed ten people and then took his own life. A total of eleven people died in this tragic incident while police confirmed seven female and three male victims, including a teacher, as of Wednesday morning. This cruel act led to the proclamation of three days of national mourning throughout Austria meinkreis.at reported.
The rampage took place at a school in Graz. But what drives a person to do such an act? A farewell letter from the perpetrator did not reveal any clear reasons. Experts suspect that years of bullying may have led to the young man's desire for revenge. The head of the school medical service in Styria, Josef Zollneritsch, draws attention to the fact that many young people do not feel sufficiently recognized, which can lead to spirals of violence. Hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service in Graz to remember the victims and light a sea of lights.
Minute of mourning for the victims
Amid this mourning, a nationwide moment of mourning will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. All 900 Vienna public transport systems, including Bims, buses and subways, are at a standstill during this minute. Trains that are between two stops travel to the nearest station and stop there. Wiener Linien has announced that this minute of mourning will be advertised both in the vehicles and at the stops. The stop displays will show the message “We stand together for Graz” to express solidarity with the victims and their families.
Wiener Linien managing director Alexandra Reinagl expressed her deep sympathy for everyone affected by these tragic events. The government under Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) described it as a “national tragedy” and pointed to the need to stand together in such difficult times.
Discussion about gun laws
The events in Graz also raise questions about gun laws in Austria. These are less strict than in Germany. Certain rifles may be purchased by any 18-year-old, while handguns require a gun ownership card. The perpetrator received this after a psychological test, which is fueling the discussion about the appropriateness of the existing regulations. There have been repeated discussions about gun laws in the past, such as after the shooting rampage in Mauterndorf in 1997. At that time, political actors called for the laws to be tightened, but the legal situation ultimately remained unchanged.
The tragedy in Graz will certainly lead to renewed debates about safety in schools and how to deal with psychological problems among young people. It's not just about the perpetrators, but also about the question of how we as a society can support our young people more effectively.