Three-Day National Mourning Declared After Attack in Graz School

This was announced by Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) on Tuesday afternoon at a press conference in Graz. All of Austria will commemorate the victims during the three days, and the Austrian flag will be flown at half-mast on all public buildings. Additionally, a nationwide minute of silence for the victims will be held on Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM.

Three-Day National Mourning Announced

"The solidarity of the entire country should offer a little comfort to the bereaved and relatives of the victims of this terrible act in these dark hours," concluded Stocker in his statement. A decision by the Council of Ministers is needed for the national mourning, a spokesperson for the Chancellor told APA earlier. This decision is expected to be made today, Tuesday, by circular resolution.

Ö3 Started Helpline Earlier

Following the attack in a Graz school on Tuesday morning, the ORF radio station Ö3 started its "helpline" service earlier than usual. In addition, ORF TV, as well as radio and online channels, are continuously adapting their programming to the developments. Besides ongoing reporting, a "ZIB Special" is scheduled for 8:15 PM on ORF 2. The "Report" will also address the events in Graz from 9:05 PM, and "ZIB 2" will be expanded with a "ZIB Talk" on the topic.

Graz/Vienna. Additionally, the ORF III channel will cover the tragic events from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM and from 7:20 PM to 8:15 PM, as announced by ORF in a press release. Alongside ongoing reports from the Styrian regional studio, the special program "Styria Mourns" will start at 6:00 PM with Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl and Edwin Benko from the crisis intervention team. Furthermore, programs such as "Styria Today" or the radio journals will provide information. According to ORF, the Ö3 helpline is "accessible free of charge from all networks" at 116 123. The service, offered daily for around 40 years between 4:00 PM and 12:00 AM, was started two hours earlier than usual today.

ORF points to various agencies that offer unbureaucratic and free assistance in dealing with personal crisis situations. An overview can be found at: https://oe3.ORF.at/stories/3048317.

FPÖ Postpones Party Conference

Due to the attack in a Graz school with several deaths, the FPÖ has postponed its party conference planned for the weekend. Party leader Herbert Kickl was originally supposed to stand for re-election on Saturday in Kitzbühel. The shocking events in Graz make a party conference in the coming days impossible, it was stated in a press release on Tuesday. Following the Freedom Party, which postponed the party conference with the re-election of party leader Herbert Kickl to autumn, the ÖVP and KPÖ also canceled their state party conferences in Styria.

"Today, I suggested to the Freedom Party family to postpone the upcoming federal party conference," Kickl announced. "Austria, the FPÖ, and I personally are deeply saddened and shocked. We will and want to shape the coming days in memory of the victims, their families, and friends, who were robbed of the most precious thing in the most terrible way, as days of peace and remembrance." Everything has its time, said Kickl. "Now is the time for mourning, comforting, and silence - not for major political events." Kickl thanked all regional groups for the joint approach.

The FPÖ was supposed to meet for a federal party conference in Kitzbühel on Saturday. Kickl was to stand for re-election there. The shocking events in Graz would make a party conference impossible in the coming days, it was said in a statement on Tuesday. "Today I suggested to the freedom family to postpone the upcoming federal party conference," Kickl announced. "Austria, the FPÖ, and I personally are deeply dismayed and shocked. We will and want to shape the next few days in memory of the victims, their families, and friends, who were robbed of the most precious in the most terrible way, as days of peace and remembrance." Everything has its time, said Kickl. "Now is the time for mourning, comforting, and silence - not for major political events." Kickl thanked all regional groups for the joint approach. The party conference is now to take place in the fall.

On Saturday, the state party conference of the ÖVP Styria with the election of Manuela Khom as state party chairwoman was also supposed to take place, but it was also postponed. "No one feels like attending a state party conference in light of the tragic events. I am at a loss for words and it breaks my heart when I think of the suffering caused by this terrible act," Khom was quoted in a statement.

The KPÖ Styria was also supposed to have its state party conference, but announced in a statement on Tuesday evening that it is now postponed: "The news of this horrific tragedy has shaken us all and makes us deeply affected. Our thoughts are with all those affected - the students, the school staff, the parents, and relatives. It is now time to pause," explained Robert Krotzer, Styrian KPÖ state chairman and city councilor for health in Graz. A new date was not initially set.

The Salzburg People's Party has canceled its 41st regular state congress, which was supposed to take place on Friday, June 13, with the election of Karoline Edtstadler as chairwoman. The state party conference is expected to take place at the end of June, according to the ÖVP in response to an APA inquiry in the evening.

There will be no political appearances during the state mourning at the Europa-Forum Wachau either. This was announced by Governor and EFW patron Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) in a statement. The forum will take place with a reduced program, and social gatherings within its framework have been canceled.

Moment of Silence at Nova Rock, Film Award and More

With moments of silence, various major cultural events outside of Styria, where cultural activities are being scaled down, will take place over the next three days of state mourning. This was revealed in an APA survey among organizers. The program of the Summer Night Concert in Schönbrunn on Friday will be slightly adapted to the circumstances. At the Nova Rock Festival in Nickelsdorf, there will be a pause before the performance of the US band Korn.

"Music plays where words fail. Out of our deepest dismay, we will precede the Summer Night Concert with Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Air'. We then ask for a moment of silence for the victims of the Graz attack and are in thoughts with the bereaved and friends," said the board of the Vienna Philharmonic, Daniel Froschauer. The originally scheduled opening piece, the cancan from Jacques Offenbach's "Orpheé aux enfers," will be omitted due to its humorous character. The traditional large concert under the open sky is scheduled for Friday evening.

The federal theaters plan moments of silence before each performance during the period of state mourning, as stated to the APA. In the Pannonia Fields in Burgenland's Nickelsdorf, the loud opening will take place on Wednesday. Before the headliner of the first day, Korn, there will also be a minute of silence, it was said.

The Austrian Film Award will not be canceled, but the victims will also be commemorated with a moment of silence. However, the traditional party as part of the award ceremony will be canceled, according to the Austrian Film Academy in response to an APA inquiry.

(APA/Red)

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