Graham Graz: President Van der Bellen mourns the victims of the school shooting

Graham Graz: President Van der Bellen mourns the victims of the school shooting

On June 10, 2025, a tragic shooting occurred at a high school in Graz, in which a total of eleven people, including students and a teacher, were killed. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old former student at the school, committed suicide after the frightening acts. He had legally owned two firearms, which reignited the debate about gun laws in Austria. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen described the act as a “horror” and said that it hit the country “right in the heart”. He immediately initiated measures to support the affected families and to clarify the legal situation in order to prevent future tragedies of this kind.

Van der Bellen, who traveled to Graz the day after the violence, laid flowers at the scene together with his wife Doris Schmidauer. He lit candles in Graz's main square to commemorate the victims and emphasized the importance of solidarity in difficult times. “We have to give those affected security again,” said Van der Bellen in a media statement, in which he also brought up the need to examine legal adjustments.

Funeral services and national condolences

The tragedy in Graz was perceived by the entire nation with horror and sadness. On June 11, 2025, a nationwide minute of mourning took place at 10 a.m. while many people attended funeral services in Graz. Experts add that bullying may have played a role in the perpetrator's behavior. However, a farewell letter from the gunman did not provide any clear evidence of a motive.

In the days following the incident, three days of national mourning were declared by the Austrian federal government. Political events, including party conferences, were canceled or postponed to reflect the suffering of the victims. The Graz soccer player Michael Gregoritsch and the Austrian soccer team also showed their condolences; Before a game, people held a minute's silence and wore mourning ribbons.

Background and previous developments in Austria

Although mass shootings are rare in Austria, the memory of the few that occurred remains strong. Statistics show that many of these incidents were committed with firearms and usually left deep social wounds. A chronological list of past rampages shows clear parallels to current events:

The shock waves of the attack in Graz are far from subsided and many questions remain unanswered. In the coming weeks, an in-depth discussion about the legal situation regarding gun ownership in Austria is expected in order to prevent future tragedies.