Shocking rampage in Graz: Ten dead and a pipe bomb found!

Shocking rampage in Graz: Ten dead and a pipe bomb found!

On Tuesday, June 11, 2025, a shocking rampage occurred at a school in Graz, in which a 21-year-old perpetrator shot students and teachers with two legal firearms. A total of ten people died in the incident. The perpetrator, a former student at the school in question, took his own life in a school toilet after the crime. The police received the first emergency calls around 10 a.m. reporting shots and screaming. The Styria State Police Directorate confirmed the situation was under control after 17 minutes, with over 300 police and rescue workers on duty.

The rampage ended with a shockingly high number of eleven deaths, including seven women and three men, as well as several seriously injured students. The attack was carried out in the perpetrator's former classroom and a second classroom. Witnesses reported panic and frantic attempts to escape while students were evacuated to a nearby hall and looked after by a crisis intervention team.

Finds in the perpetrator's apartment

As part of the investigation, police searched the perpetrator's apartment and discovered an inoperable pipe bomb and a farewell video addressed to his mother. An analogous farewell letter was also found, but it does not provide a specific motive for the terrible act. In the video, the perpetrator stated that he was acting “of his own free will.” According to reports, the perpetrator was considered to be inconspicuous and was not previously known to the authorities. However, there is evidence of years of bullying during his school years.

The shocking events led to national mourning. Hundreds of people gathered for a memorial service to remember the victims. The tragedy has reignited debate about school safety and how to deal with such extreme incidents of violence. Experts emphasize the need for emergency plans and preventive measures to be better prepared for such crisis situations. School leaders and teachers need to be trained to deal with violent incidents in order to mitigate the consequences of such tragedies.

Social reactions and prevention

The public debate about the causes of such acts of violence is fueled by the alarming frequency of school shootings. Experts are calling for more intensive measures to control access to weapons and reduce violent images. A large number of federal states in Germany have already developed emergency plans, but it remains unclear to what extent these plans are actually effective.

The tragedy in Graz clearly shows that prevention and crisis intervention are the key to preventing such incidents in the future. It is recommended to carry out regular exercises to strengthen the ability to act in emergencies and to ensure that victims always have priority in such situations. It is hoped that the community learns from this tragedy and implements effective changes to ensure safety in schools.

For further information about the events in Graz, the detailed reports from vienna.at and t-online.de be consulted. The site also offers school-violenceprevention.org valuable information on violence prevention.