After Graz Rampage: Security Council Raises Weapons Issue

The government leadership had convened the committee with the aim of thoroughly analyzing the background of the rampage. No details emerged from the committee, which does not meet publicly, but it was said that the parliamentary parties were brought up to date with the current information.

According to APA information, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) provided an update on the status of the investigation, and Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) was also present at the meeting, as well as high-ranking representatives of the Austrian security apparatus.

Government Leadership Also at Security Council in Parliament

The government leadership, including Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP), Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ), and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS), also participated. Before the meeting began, Stocker once again expressed his concern: The Security Council was meeting for a very sad reason, he said to journalists. Everyone was still in shock from the events, and he also referred to the national mourning, which would last until Thursday evening (7 PM).

It was now important to bring all parliamentary parties to the same level of information, said the Chancellor before the meeting began in Parliament. Babler emphasized that it was not possible to return to business as usual. The top politicians did not want to comment on any potential political steps, such as a possible tightening of gun laws. Appropriate steps would only be taken after all investigation results were available, Babler explained.

"Phase of Shock and Mourning"

Stocker and Meinl-Reisinger also referred to the ongoing investigations. The Foreign Minister stated that they were still in the phase of shock and mourning. It was now important to stand together as a society and be there for each other. The meeting was intended to give all parliamentary parties the same level of information, she also said.

After the meeting, no statements were made by the government representatives. Green Party leader Werner Kogler also referred to the confidentiality obligation of the committee. In principle, he also emphasized that two days after the events, words were still hard to find, and it was still "incomprehensible." There should be a few days to pause, and he welcomed the three-day national mourning decided by the government.

Kogler: "Shake Up" Gun Laws

However, questions would arise, particularly regarding gun laws, emphasized Kogler, who saw himself aligned with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen on this issue. "Gun laws need to be shaken up," said Kogler. It cannot be that we simply return to business as usual. This applies to gun laws, but also to the issue of psychosocial care and violence prevention. It is also important to him to highlight the performance of the executive as well as doctors and hospitals, stressed the former Vice Chancellor.

Karner to Inform EU Colleagues on Friday

A day after Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) provided an overview of the investigation status of the rampage at a school in Graz to the National Security Council in Vienna, he will inform his EU counterparts at the interior ministers' meeting in Luxembourg on Friday.

Luxembourg/Graz. He has been in intensive exchange with several European counterparts since Tuesday evening, said Karner in a written statement. "The terrible rampage in Graz will therefore also be a central topic in my discussions within the framework of the EU Council of Interior Ministers tomorrow. I would like to thank the many colleagues for their expressions of solidarity in recent days." Austria is particularly "interested in the experiences and conclusions of other EU countries that have had rampages, especially in educational institutions, in recent years."

Attacker in Örebro Also Legally Owned Weapons

An exchange with the Swedish delegation is also planned, it was said in advance to the APA. In Örebro, a similar incident occurred in February. In the central Swedish city, a 35-year-old killed ten people and injured six others in the worst shooting attack in Sweden's history at an educational center, before committing suicide. The attacker had a hunting license and legally owned several hunting weapons. However, the police found no evidence that he ever used them for hunting. A debate on tightening gun laws also began in Sweden as a result.

On the agenda of the EU Council, in which the Austrian Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner will also participate, are, among other things, a debate on the current situation and development of the Schengen area in light of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the agreement, the IT infrastructure for border management and law enforcement, but above all the asylum and migration pact, which must be implemented by June 2026. Recently, the EU Commission presented a proposal for faster repatriation to safe third countries.

Germany's new hard line on rejections at the borders has recently sparked intense discussions. European refugee organizations on Thursday called on the EU Commission to initiate infringement proceedings against Germany, as the measures violated existing EU law.

(APA/Red)

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