Shock to Amo run in Graz: Students save life, school stands still!

Shock to Amo run in Graz: Students save life, school stands still!

Graz, Österreich - On June 11, 2025, a school run in a school in Graz, which triggered great concern throughout Austria. Norbert Urabl, the deputy director of the affected school, described his impressions of this tragic event in ZIB2. Initially, the students heard unclear bruises before they were informed about shots and injuries. However, the students' reactions were impressive: they built barricades and closed doors, using the theoretical knowledge from previous fire protection exercises. Urabl emphasized that they could have prevented many fatalities.

The emergency services were quickly on site, which Urabl emphasized as extremely positive. He praised the police and the emergency services for their efficient evacuation and support. Despite these quick measures, it was unclear during the evacuation what happened to the perpetrator. Pupils, parents and teachers had to deal with emotional aftermath of the incident, since many questions remained open.

grief and sympathy at the national level

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen described the deed in a statement on Bluesky as an "indescribable horror" and recognized the pain of the relatives of the victims. Chancellor Christian Stocker also commented and described the incident as a "dark day" for the nation. He announced a minute of mourning for Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and a three -day state grants until Friday. All public events were canceled in Styria to commemorate the victims.

political reactions came from all over the country. Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Minister of Education Christoph Return emphasized the need for support for those affected. The flags on the parliamentary roof are placed on half mast, while the FPÖ shifted their party congress planned for the weekend. The Styrian governor Mario Kunasek described the killing spree as an insanity and was deeply affected. International condolences also achieved Austria, including from head of state such as the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj.

prevention measures and social responsibility

In terms of prevention of amo runs, it has been shown that schools cannot be made impregnable fortresses. Specialists therefore demand increased attention to warning signals. Criminal psychologist Karoline Roshdi pointed out that schools should have a team of crisis to recognize and defuse threats early. Studies indicate that in most cases of gauge runs, warnings of the same age or social media are already presenting.

The emergency concept of schools plays a crucial role in being prepared for potential acts of violence. In many federal states, as in North Rhine-Westphalia, there are instructions for schools to help correctly react in an emergency. Roshdi emphasizes that a culture of looking is needed and trained contacts are decisive so that students know that if they can contact fears or worries. The crisis teams introduced after the killing spree of Erfurt in 2002 are not yet sufficiently active in many schools.

Overall, it can be said that the community, politics and especially the schools have to pull together to ensure the safety of the students. The shock by the killing spree in Graz will continue to have a long time, both emotionally and in the discussion about security concepts in schools.