Ten dead in mass shooting in Austria’s Graz: Report

Nine people have been killed and at least 10 injured in a shooting at a school in the Austrian city of Graz.

Police were deployed to the BORG Dreierschutzengasse school in Austria’s second city on Tuesday morning after shots were heard.

The suspected attacker is also dead, according to the Austrian Press Agency, bringing the total death toll to ten.

Police said that they arrived at the school shortly after the shots were reported and secured the premises.

“No further danger is expected,” the police said, adding that students had been evacuated and were receiving support from a crisis intervention team along with their parents.

Among those killed are at least seven students, said Graz Mayor Elke Kahr, describing the attack as a “terrible tragedy”. At least one adult was also killed.

The Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported that at least 10 other people were wounded.

Mario Kunasek, governor of the southeastern Austrian state of Styria, of which Graz is the capital, expressed condolences to the victims.

“As a father, I am deeply saddened by this insane act, which has caused so much harm and incredible suffering,” he said. “My thoughts are with the innocent victims, families and teachers.”

Kronen Zeitung reported shots were first heard at about 10am (08:00 GMT) and the attack was carried out across two classrooms at the upper secondary school, which is attended by pupils of 14 years and older.

Police say they’re working on the assumption that there was a sole suspect.

Media report that the perpetrator, who took their own life, is a former student of the school, and labelled the attack one of the country’s worst mass shootings.

Graz, Austria’s second most populous city, is located in the southeast of the country and has a population of about 300,000 people.

Chancellor Christian Stocker is on his way to the school, a spokeswoman said. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was also expected at the scene.

A spokeswoman for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the killings “absolutely horrible and tragic.”