Graz Mayor Kahr: Terrible tragedy” after school attack!

Graz Mayor Kahr: Terrible tragedy” after school attack!

There was a tragic incident at a school in Graz on Tuesday in which at least nine people, including the alleged perpetrator, lost their lives. The mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr (KPÖ), described the situation as a “terrible tragedy” and was herself present at the crime scene late on Tuesday morning. Many injured people were taken to a hospital, while some of the affected children and teachers were taken to the Helmut List Hall in Graz. Kahr praised the emergency response organizations for their careful handling of the situation.

In order to support families, family reunions take place in the ASKÖ hall. Kahr also emphasized the importance of psychological support and demanded that classes should take place in the coming days, but that the material should not be the focus in order to give those affected time to process it.

Psychological support for those affected

In the context of tragedies and crises, psychological support for those affected is crucial. An example of this is a 13-year-old student at a middle school in eastern Styria who threatened to go on a shooting spree. The student, who is currently suspended because of his threats, is receiving psychological support supported by his parents. He faces a fate that cannot be prosecuted in court, as this is only possible from the age of 14.

The student is the first to take advantage of a new suspension support program run by the Coordination Office for Violence and Radicalization Prevention in the Education Directorate. Support from social workers will include visits several times a week until the end of his four-week suspension, which ends Oct. 18. The police are also involved in prevention.

Crisis intervention in schools

Against the background of such incidents, the handout “Crisis Intervention in Schools” is of great importance. This was created to support school leaders in implementing a school crisis team and provides guidelines and materials for crisis management. The aim is to improve the prevention, acute case and aftercare of crises and to contribute to quality assurance in the area of ​​school crisis intervention. These measures are intended not only to respond to acute incidents, but also to promote the long-term psychological stability of the students.

These tragic incidents highlight the need to strengthen preventive measures in educational institutions. Both in Graz and in Eastern Styria, the importance of psychological support and individual support continues to be emphasized in order to be able to respond appropriately to such crisis situations.