Suspected shooter reported to have died by suicide as country mourns after one of its worst mass shootings.
A gunman has killed nine people and injured at least another 10 in a shooting at a school in the Austrian city of Graz.
Police were deployed to the BORG Dreierschutzengasse school in Austria’s second largest 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 10.
Police said 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 were at least seven students, Graz Mayor Elke Kahr said, describing the attack as a “terrible tragedy”. At least one adult was also killed.
Local media reports identified the suspect as a 22-year-old former student who had been a victim of bullying.
He reportedly carried a pistol and a shotgun and opened fire on pupils in two classrooms, one of which had once been his classroom. Media reports said he died by suicide and his body was found in a bathroom.
The Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported shots were first heard about 10am (08:00 GMT) and the attack was carried out across two classrooms at the upper secondary school, which is attended by pupils 14 years and older.
Police said they are working on the assumption that there was a sole suspect.
The attack is reported to be one of the country’s worst mass shootings.
Chancellor Christian Stocker planned to travel to the school, a spokeswoman said. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was also expected at the scene.
Mario Kunasek, governor of the southeastern Austrian state of Styria, of which Graz – which has a population of about 300,000 people – is the capital, expressed condolences to families of 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.”
A spokeswoman for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the killings “absolutely horrible and tragic”.
“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the entire city of Graz. We stand together in mourning while we seek clarity in the wake of this horrible event,” she said.
Source: Al Jazeera