Shooting spree in Graz: 14-year-old among the nine victims – shock in the city!

Shooting spree in Graz: 14-year-old among the nine victims – shock in the city!

A tragic shooting spree occurred in Graz in which nine young people and a teacher lost their lives. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old man named Artur A., ​​committed suicide on Tuesday after attacking his former school. Among the victims is a 14-year-old teenager. The remaining victims were between 15 and 17 years old, while one of the victims was a Polish citizen. oe24.at reports that another six people are being treated at the LKH University Hospital Graz, with four in the intensive care unit and two being transferred to a normal ward.

The police conducted a search of the perpetrator's apartment, during which an inoperable pipe bomb was found. Investigators found both a farewell video and a handwritten farewell letter that could provide information about the perpetrator's motivation. According to reports, Artur A. legally owned a shotgun and a pistol, but was not allowed to wield them. Surprisingly, media reports of bullying of the perpetrator were not confirmed by the police, highlighting the complexity of the situation.

Current situation of the injured

At the LKH Graz II/West, an injured person is receiving intensive medical care whose condition is classified as stable. Four other patients are being treated in the accident hospital in Graz, all of whom are out of danger. Two of them require follow-up operations for facial and knee injuries. A previously critical person has stabilized. The rainews.it informs that intensive medical care will continue.

In the days following the incident, several copycat perpetrators made threats, including a bomb threat against Graz Central Station and threatening letters against a school. Police have taken precautionary measures and are investigating these copycats to avoid further panic. At the same time, the Red Cross has set up a crisis intervention that provides contact points for those affected at the places of mourning around the clock.

Prepare for emergency situations

Current events dramatically demonstrate the need for emergency plans and crisis interventions in schools. As explained in schulische-violentpraevention.org, the probability and unpredictability of such violent situations are high. School management, teachers and students must be as prepared as possible for incidents of violence and damage. Emergency folders with important information and checklists should be updated regularly, and crisis intervention teams are essential for effective response.

Preventive measures must be strengthened in order to reduce the willingness to use violence in society. It requires a collective rethinking process to promote a sense of security in schools and other educational institutions. Many teachers feel unprepared and uncertain in crisis situations, which is why targeted training and regular exercises are crucial in order to avoid misunderstandings and be able to react quickly.

In addition to the treatment of the injured and the psychopathological support of those affected, the focus is also on social reactions. The debate over possible tightening of gun laws and control over violent media content is now being reignited as affected communities attempt to process the trauma and address the social causes.