School shooter kills 10 in Austria

Former pupil opened fire in classrooms in Graz before killing himself

A lone gunman opened fire on pupils in a deadly attack at a school in the Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday.

Police said 11 people died in the incident, including the attacker, and several were seriously injured.

Nine victims were immediately confirmed but a woman died from her wounds in hospital later, an official said.

Seven of the victims were female and three male, authorities said without specifying their ages, although it has been reported that at least seven were children. A 17-year-old French pupil was among the victims, his father revealed.

Twelve people suffered severe injuries and police said support was being provided to witnesses and those affected.

The Kronen Zeitung newspaper said the attacker opened fire in two classrooms.

Students and teachers were among those seriously injured, police spokesman Fritz Grundnig said.

The unprecedented case of deadly gun violence that stunned the Alpine country.

Mayor Elke Kahr called it a “terrible tragedy”, while Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning in response to what he called a "dark day".

The 21-year old sole suspect had been a pupil at the school but did not graduate, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said at a news conference.

Police said that it was assumed there was only one attacker. They said late on Tuesday they had found a goodbye letter addressed to his parents during a search of his residence, but that it included no clues about his motive.

Police gather on a street in Graz, south-east Austria, after a school shooting. AFP

Police and special forces patrol close to Borg Dreierschutzengasse high school. AFP

A police helicopter flies above the school where at least 10 people died in the incident, including the attacker. AFP

Emergency personnel near the scene of the attack. AFP

Graz Mayor Elke Kahr said the gunman was among the dead and called the incident a 'terrible tragedy'. AFP

A view of the school building after the shooting. AP

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, left, and Chancellor Christian Stocker, right, attend a news conference in Graz. AP

A police tent near the school. AFP

Graz Mayor Elke Kahr talks to a police officer. AFP

Police officers at the scene as children are evacuated from the school. Reuters

“Currently, a police operation is under way. The reason for the deployment was that gunshots were heard in the building,” police said on X when the incident occurred.

Special forces were also sent to the Borg Dreierschutzengasse high school after a call at 10am. Graz, Austria's second-largest city, has about 300,000 residents.

Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said she had been shaken by reports of the “rampage” in Graz.

“No one can imagine the suffering. As a mother of three children, it tears my heart apart,” she wrote on X.

Regional governor Mario Kunasek described it as an “insane act”, while EU foreign affairs minister Kaja Kallas said she was "deeply shocked" by the shooting.

"Every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence," Ms Kallas posted on X. "My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Austrian people in this dark moment."

Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig said he was shocked by the incident and sent his condolences to the victims and their families.

“Hate and violence must never gain the upper hand,” he wrote on X. “Our response to this must be an even stronger commitment to unity and respect.”