Overview

• A 21-year-old former student armed with a legally owned shotgun and handgun killed ten people at a Graz high school on June 10 before taking his own life.
• Investigators uncovered a non-functional pipe bomb and detailed bomb plans at the shooter’s residence, and his farewell letter offered no clear motive.
• Austria observed a national minute of silence on June 11 as part of three days of state mourning, leading to the cancellation or postponement of major political and social events.
• President Alexander Van der Bellen has questioned whether current firearms rules meet modern needs, and the government has announced a formal review of gun legislation.
• Experts suggest the attacker’s history of bullying may have contributed to his actions, and regional figures such as Graz Mayor Elke Kahr are calling for a private gun ownership ban.