Several Killed In Austria School Shooting
BBC News
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Ten people have died following a shooting at a secondary school in the Austrian city of Graz, police say
Students, at least one adult and the suspected gunman are among the dead, with several other seriously injured
The shooting happened at the Dreierschützengasse high school in Austria's second-largest city at about 10:00 local time
Police say the school has been secured – if you're in Graz, you can get in touch with us here
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker calls the shooting a "national tragedy" and says there are no words for the pain and grief the country is feeling
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Police officers and ambulances at the scene of Austrian school shooting
Edited by Marita Moloney
We're expecting an update from government officials including Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in about an hour following the school shooting in Graz.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr are also expected to speak at the news conference at 15:00 local time (14:00 BST).
We'll bring you updates on what they have to say, as well as the latest updates from the scene, so stay with us.
Austrian media is reporting that 30 people injured in this morning's shooting are being treated in hospital.
It comes as police say in a recent update that several are seriously injured after a gunman opened fire at a school in Graz.
Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter
Gun laws in Austria are generally more liberal than in many places in Europe.
Ownership of rifles and shotguns is permitted for any European citizen over 18, although they have to register the weapons with the authorities within six weeks and are subject to a three-day cooling-off period.
Handguns such as pistols, revolvers and semi-automatic firearms can only be purchased by people over 21 who hold firearms licences.
In general anyone who wants to own a weapon needs to give a reason for the purchase, which can be sports shooting or self-defence. A psychological assessment may be required but is not compulsory.
According to the 2017 Small Arms Survey, Austria has about 30 guns per 100 people – making it the 14th country in the world for gun ownership.
Police have confirmed that ten people are dead, including the perpetrator, following the shooting at Dreierschützengasse high school.
Several people are also seriously injured, they add in a post on X, external.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says news of the shooting in Graz "hits home".
"My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and friends," she writes on X.
"Schools are symbols of youth, hope, and the future. It is difficult to bear when schools become places of death and violence," von der Leyen adds.
She also expresses her thanks to the emergency services "in these difficult times".
Are you in Graz? If it is safe to do so, we want to hear from you.
You can get in touch in the following ways:
Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
As we've just reported, Austrian police have confirmed that the gunman is among those killed in this morning's attack. Earlier reports suggested he had locked himself in a school toilet after the shooting.
Nine people have been killed, according to interior ministry officials quoted by Austrian media. At least seven of those dead are thought to be students at the school, and another was an adult.
There is still some confusion about the number of casualties as the mayor has said that 10 people were killed. We've contacted the interior ministry and will bring you updates as we get them.
Chancellor Christian Stocker has described the attack as a national tragedy that "strikes our country right at its heart".
"These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher, who had accompanied them on that journey."
Police in Graz have confirmed that the perpetrator is among the dead following this morning's shooting at a secondary school in Graz.
They have not confirmed the number of casualties yet, but say several people have been killed. Earlier the city's mayor told the APA news agency that nine people were killed, before she updated this figure to 10.
We're working to gather more information, and our correspondents are en route to the scene.Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
Elke Kahr has been sharing updates from the scene this morning
Graz Mayor Elke Kahr has now said that 10 people have been killed in this morning's shooting. School students are among the dead and a number of people have been reported wounded.
Police say the suspected gunman probably took his own life after the attack on the Dreierschützengasse high school at about 10:00 (09:00 BST).
It is not clear at the moment if the gunman was a student or a former student at the school.
The shooting happened at a large secondary school, Dreierschützengasse, in the south-eastern city of Graz, not far from the city's railway station.
Graz is Austria's second-largest city and located around 200km from the capital, Vienna. Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
Graz Mayor Elke Kahr has told Austria's APA news agency that nine people have been killed in today's gun attack.
The shooting took place at about 10:00 (09:00BST) at the Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz in south-east Austria.
APA says they include seven school students and an adult.
The mayor says the gunman is among the dead. He is thought to have been a student and police say he probably took his own life. Elke Kahr has spoken of a terrible tragedy.
There's a heavy police presence near the Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, where officials have confirmed several people are dead following a shooting.
Here are some of the first pictures we're seeing from the scene:Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
Police have just given a news conference in Graz, confirming that several people have been killed and others are wounded in an attack on Dreierschützengasse high school.
They have declined to give the number of casualties but some Austrian reports speak of at least nine killed including the suspected gunman.
Local Mayor Elke Kahr has told APA news agency that the suspected gunman is among those killed. A police spokesman told Austrian media he was a student at the school.
Police say the school has now been secured and there is no further danger.
Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
Police say they have deployed their specialist Cobra tactical unit which handles attacks and hostage situations, alongside their normal response teams.
A disaster alert is said to have been issued for local hospitals and wounded students are being looked at in a nearby concert and exhibition hall.
The government has also reacted to the shooting, with Chancellor Christian Stocker cancelling his appointments for the day. The interior minister is said to be on his way to Graz.
Bethany Bell
Reporting en route to Graz
Ambulances have been gathering on a street close to the school in Graz
Police have said that 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) they started an operation at a secondary school around the city of Graz, in south-eastern Austria.
According to media reports, shots were heard coming from a big secondary school in Dreierschützengasse.
The Austrian interior ministry says a number of people are feared dead, including the suspected gunman, while local media are saying police indicated he shot himself.
A lot of people are badly injured, according to local media, including pupils and teachers.
The police operation is still under way as they are evacuating the school building. There's a large police presence on the ground including special units.
Austria's interior ministry says several people have been killed in the shooting at the Dreierschützengasse high school, according to public broadcaster ORF.
We already know that pupils and teachers are among the casualties and that the perpetrator is believed to have shot himself in a school toilet.
According to tabloid Kronen Zeitung eight people have been killed in the attack, although the details have not been confirmed officially.
Austrian police have said the shooting took place at a federal upper secondary school on Dreierschützengasse, in the north-west of the city of Graz, not far from the main central train station.
According to Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung, injured students are being cared for in the nearby Helmut List Hall – an events venue very close to the school.
Graz is the second-largest city in Austria and is located about 200km from the capital Vienna.
Austrian police say an operation is ongoing and a helicopter has been deployed in Dreierschützengasse.
They say gunshots were heard at the Dreierschützengasse secondary school, and members of the public are advised to follow the instructions of officers.
They haven't commented on the number of casualties yet, but we'll bring you more details as we have them.
Austria's public broadcaster, ORF, says a major police operation has been under way for almost an hour after a school shooting in Graz.
Citing police, the broadcaster says the shooting happened at the Dreierschützengasse high school, and that gunshots were heard in the building.
Police spokesman Fritz Grundnig tells the outlet there may be fatalities, with ORF also reporting the suspected gunman is believed to have killed himself.
Several people have been injured in a school shooting in the Austrian city of Graz, local media report.
Police say an operation is under way after gunshots were reported at the BORG Dreierschützengasse school.
This is a breaking story and we'll bring you updates as we get them.
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