Attack in Graz School: Ten People Dead
Update: After the rampage at a secondary school in Graz with initially nine fatalities, the LKH Graz announced on Tuesday evening that there is another to mourn: It is an adult woman - one of the two seriously injured who were admitted to the hospital. The number of fatalities has now risen to ten. According to State Police Director Gerald Ortner, the perpetrator was a 21-year-old Austrian. The man committed suicide.
In the attack, eleven people lost their lives, seven of the victims were female, three male. The perpetrator committed suicide in a restroom facility. Eleven other people are - some seriously - injured. Neither the police at the press conference nor the Styrian state rescue commander wanted to go into detail about their exact condition. "But it was certainly the most tragic operation of the Red Cross in Styria in the Second Republic," said Peter Hansak to the APA after the media briefing.
Among the dead were students and at least one adult person. The alleged perpetrator is also among them.
Twelve people are - some seriously - injured. Neither the police at the press conference nor the Styrian state rescue commander wanted to go into detail about their exact condition. "But it was certainly the most tragic operation of the Red Cross in Styria in the Second Republic," said Peter Hansak to the APA after the media briefing.
Ambulance Transport Temporarily Suspended
Hansak emphasized that the Red Cross had so far supported around 200 parents and relatives as well as 300 students as part of the crisis intervention. 40 Red Cross personnel are still on site. In total, 220 employees of the Red Cross were deployed.
Due to the situation, as is usual in such cases, ambulance transport was also suspended during the rampage. "All non-essential operations are then scaled back."
According to State Police Director Gerald Ortner, the perpetrator was a 21-year-old Austrian. The man, who committed suicide, used two firearms that he legally possessed. These were a long gun and a handgun.
"We were alerted because of shots and screams in a school," Ortner explained shortly after 3:15 PM to media representatives. Subsequently, a large contingent was immediately mobilized. According to Ortner, over 300 police forces were deployed.
17 minutes later, the forces of EKO Cobra were finally able to restore security after searching the building, explained the Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf. This allowed the first emergency medical vehicles to arrive within a short time.
According to initial information from the police, the perpetrator is believed to have acted alone. Media reports suggest that it is a former student who felt bullied. However, the police have not yet confirmed this. Media also reported that he allegedly bought the weapon only a few days earlier and fired in two classes. This has also not been confirmed yet. Other media reported that the perpetrator used a Glock pistol and a shotgun. The ex-student is said to have legally owned both.
Victims Taken to Various Hospitals
The victims of the attack were taken to the LKH University Hospital Graz, LKH Graz II/West location, and the UKH. At the LKH, there are seven people, one at LKH Graz II/West location, and four at the UKH accident hospital. The available care capacities are sufficient, and the care is proceeding professionally and calmly, according to a first statement from KAGes. From the first alert, all capacities at the clinics were kept available for the care of those affected.
At the university hospital, the teams from the Center for Acute Medicine (ZAM) and the Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery are deployed to care for the injured. A total of two adults and five adolescents are being treated there. In the afternoon, the condition of two patients was very critical, five are seriously injured, and all were still in the operating room in the early afternoon.
At the UKH accident hospital in the Eggenberg district, three adolescents and one adult are being treated. They have suffered gunshot wounds, including to the legs, according to the press office of UKH Graz. Another victim is being treated at LKH Graz II/West location. Meanwhile, the hospital of the Elisabethinen in the Graz district of Gries reported a higher patient influx in the emergency rooms.
Crisis Intervention Team and Red Cross Deployed
By noon, the situation was considered "safe" for the population. Police vehicles slowly withdrew. The Red Cross, however, was still fully operational at noon. Spokesman Stefan Loseries told the media that over 160 Red Cross rescue workers were deployed, with more arriving in the early afternoon. The injured were distributed among several hospitals in and around Graz. Crisis teams met there at noon.
The area around the school remained closed for hours in the morning. "I couldn't leave for two hours," a neighbor told APA on Tuesday on-site. The affected high school was still cordoned off by police during a local inspection on Tuesday afternoon at 5:40 PM. At times, entire streets in Graz were closed during and after the operation on Tuesday. Heavily armed Cobra officers were also stationed and patrolling at the main train station in the afternoon.
The uninjured children and adolescents were partly taken to the nearby Helmut-List-Halle and cared for by the crisis intervention team and the Red Cross. Relatives concerned about their children were sent to the nearby ASKÖ-Halle. This is now the contact point for parents.
Investigations Started
The police have meanwhile started investigations and must first examine the motive of the alleged perpetrator, according to APA. A "rampage" could not be confirmed even in the early afternoon. The motive is still unclear. The police asked parents not to pick up their children from school independently but to wait for further official information.
An upload platform for witnesses has been set up at https://upload.bmi.gv.at/. Suspicious observations, photos, or videos of the incident or the surroundings can be uploaded there. Tips or other observations are also accepted at any police station. The police request that uploads to social media channels be avoided to not endanger emergency services, ongoing investigations, and the victims.
Evacuation of School in Graz
The operation began around 10:00 AM. The school was evacuated. The public was urged to avoid the area around the educational institution and to follow the instructions of the security forces on site. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) was on his way to the crime scene in the morning. Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ) arrived around noon. She was at the town hall with elementary school students when she learned about it. She immediately addressed parents and children, saying: "We need to stand together now, talk to each other, and stay together. That's important."
The area around the school was cordoned off, and public transport was rerouted. All streets around the school were guarded by heavily armed police officers.
The school where the alleged rampage occurred on Tuesday is an upper secondary school near the Graz train station in the Lend district of Graz. The BORG Dreierschützengasse presents itself on its website as a committed school that strives to meet the needs of the approximately 400 students in its 20 classes beyond just imparting knowledge. "More than elsewhere, we cannot limit ourselves solely to imparting knowledge in our subject areas," it says on the website, referring to the challenge of growing social problems. Additionally, there is a counseling team consisting of a school psychologist, student counseling, and trusted teachers. A youth coaching session is offered once a week. There are also internal school projects like a tutoring system "Students help Students," where joint learning between better and weaker students is organized.
Graz City Leader: "Terrible Tragedy"
The motive of the lone perpetrator was still unclear. According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), the man was a former student of the educational institution who had not graduated. He was not previously known to authorities. Media reports that the student had allegedly been bullied in the past were not confirmed by Karner and the police on Tuesday. A further report that a farewell letter was found during a search at the 21-year-old's residence was also not confirmed by the state police directorate. The investigations were still in the early stages, said Ortner.
A report that a farewell letter was found during a search at the 21-year-old's residence was confirmed by the Director General for Public Security, Franz Ruf, in a "ZIB Spezial" on the rampage on ORF2 (8:15 PM) on Tuesday evening. According to him, it was available in both analog and digital form, but the content of the letter did not provide any indication of a motive, containing farewell words from the perpetrator to his parents. Regarding the legal possession of the weapons used, the exact circumstances need to be examined. The 21-year-old was not permitted to carry the weapon at any time due to the legal situation.
The special broadcast also discussed consequences for schools. Martin Netzer, Secretary General in the Ministry of Education, announced that school psychologists from all over Austria would be present in Graz tomorrow. The school operations at the affected school would resume next week. Regarding the final exams, solutions would be sought, said Netzer.
Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) spoke of a "dark day" and a "national tragedy." Stocker announced a minute of silence for Wednesday at 10:00 AM, and a three-day national mourning period until Friday inclusive. It is clear that "no one in this country feels like celebrating now," said Stocker. "Which events will be held is yet to be decided," Stocker said regarding already planned events and gatherings.
Events Canceled Throughout Styria
The Styrian Governor Mario Kunasek (FPÖ) emphasized that in Styria, all public events are canceled for the next three days. "Styria is mourning," said Kunasek. As a father, the events affected him deeply.
The mourning bell of St. Stephen's Cathedral - the so-called "Halbpummerin" - will ring on Wednesday at 10:00 AM for the nationwide minute of silence. Additionally, the cathedral has been draped in black flags for the three-day national mourning. A memorial and prayer hour is planned for 5:00 PM.
Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr (NEOS) said it is difficult to find words "for an act that cannot be put into words." "School must be a safe place where children and young people can develop freely." The affected high school will remain closed until further notice. "However, there will be a place at the Helmut-List-Halle where students and teachers can meet and mourn together, and where they can receive support from school psychologists," said Wiederkehr. A dedicated hotline has also been set up in this context.
For Graz Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ), the deadly attack in a school with several fatalities is a "terrible tragedy." She was at the crime scene herself late Tuesday morning, as she informed the APA. Many injured were taken to a hospital.
"All emergency organizations are acting prudently," said Kahr. Some of the children and teachers have been brought to the Graz Helmut-List-Halle in the meantime. Family reunifications are taking place in the ASKÖ-Halle. Crisis intervention team members are on duty.
Kahr requested that in the coming days, classes should take place, "but the material should not be the focus." "This needs to be dealt with first. It concerns us all. Time must be given to process this."
"Many are wondering how they can help after a situation like today in Graz. Initially, this can be achieved by calming one's family, one's children, and taking people's fears and concerns seriously," said Red Cross Federal Rescue Commander Gerry Foitik. However, if one wants to help concretely, they can do so by donating blood. The stock levels are currently at a critically low level, it was stated in a release.
The police requested on Tuesday to refrain from publishing photo and video material online out of respect for the relatives and victims, as well as the ongoing investigations. Instead, images and videos should be uploaded to the ministry's designated upload platform.
Live Blog on Events in Graz
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.