A deadly school shooting in Graz, Austria, has left a nation in mourning, with 11 people dead — seven females and three males — along with the alleged shooter, and at least a dozen injured.
ABC News reports that the attack took place at BORG Dreierschützengasse, a high school in the southern Austrian province of Styria.
They revealed that the gunman, a 21-year-old Austrian citizen and former pupil of the school, acted alone and legally owned both weapons used — a long gun and a handgun — which were found at the scene.
The Styria Police say the suspect opened fire inside the school before committing suicide in a bathroom.
They say the shooter had no prior criminal record and there had been no warning signs leading up to the attack.
ABC News says that a massive emergency response followed the incident, with more than 300 officers securing the scene within 17 minutes of the first gunshots.
They say students and staff were quickly evacuated to safety.
In a statement posted on social media, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker called the tragedy a national catastrophe and declared a three-day mourning period across the country.
He says young people had been suddenly ripped from the lives they had ahead of them, and there are no words for the pain and grief that all of Austria is feeling right now.
ABC News says support is being offered to families, students, and staff still at the scene, while investigators remain on-site searching for clues that might shed light on the shooter’s motive.
[Source: ABC News]
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