Attack in Graz School: Ten People Dead

In an attack at a Graz school on Dreierschützengasse on Tuesday morning, ten people died. This was officially confirmed by the police. Among the dead were students and at least one adult. The alleged perpetrator is also among them. Apparently, dozens of other people are injured, some seriously. They have been distributed to several hospitals.

According to initial information from the police, the perpetrator is believed to have acted alone. According to media reports, it is said to be a 22-year-old former student who felt bullied. However, the police have not yet confirmed this. Media also reported that he allegedly bought the weapon just a few days earlier and shot in two classrooms. This has also not been confirmed yet. Other media reported that the perpetrator used a Glock pistol and a shotgun. Both were apparently legally owned by the ex-student.

Victims Taken to Different Hospitals

The victims of the attack were taken to the LKH University Hospital Graz, LKH Graz II/West location, and the UKH. At the LKH, there are seven people, one at LKH Graz II/West location, and four at the UKH accident hospital. The available care capacities are sufficient, and the care is proceeding professionally and calmly, according to a first statement from KAGes. From the first alert, all capacities at the clinics were kept available for the care of those affected.

At the university hospital, the teams from the Center for Acute Medicine (ZAM) and the Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery are deployed to care for the injured. There, a total of two adults and five adolescents are being treated. In the afternoon, the condition of two patients was very critical, five are seriously injured, and all were still in the operating room in the early afternoon.

At the UKH accident hospital in the Eggenberg district, three adolescents and one adult are being treated. They have gunshot wounds, including to the legs, according to the press office of UKH Graz. Another victim is being treated at LKH Graz II/West location. Meanwhile, the hospital of the Elisabethinen in the Graz district of Gries reported a higher patient influx in the emergency rooms.

Crisis Intervention Team and Red Cross Deployed

By noon, the situation was considered "safe" for the population. Police vehicles slowly withdrew. The Red Cross, however, was still fully deployed at noon. Spokesman Stefan Loseries told the media that over 160 Red Cross rescue workers were deployed, with more arriving in the early afternoon. The injured were distributed to several hospitals in and around Graz. Crisis teams met there at noon.

The uninjured children and adolescents were partly taken to the nearby Helmut-List-Halle and cared for by the crisis intervention team and the Red Cross. Relatives concerned about their children were sent to the nearby ASKÖ-Halle. This is now the contact point for parents.

Investigations Started

The police have meanwhile started investigations and must first examine the motive of the alleged perpetrator, according to the APA. A "rampage" could not be confirmed even in the early afternoon. The motive is still unclear. The police asked parents not to pick up their children from the school independently but to wait for further official information.

A witness upload platform has been set up at https://upload.bmi.gv.at/. Suspicious observations, photos, or videos of the incident or the surroundings can be uploaded there. Tips or other observations are also accepted at any police station. The police request that uploads to social media channels be avoided to not endanger emergency services, ongoing investigations, and the victims.

Evacuation of School in Graz

The operation began around 10:00 AM. The school was evacuated. The public was urged to avoid the area around the educational institution and to follow the instructions of the security forces on site. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) was on his way to the crime scene in the morning. Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ) arrived around noon. She was at the town hall with elementary school students when she learned about it. She immediately addressed parents and children, saying: "We need to stand together now, talk to each other, and stay together. That is important."

The area around the school was cordoned off, and public transport was rerouted. All streets around the school were guarded by heavily armed police officers.

The school where the alleged rampage occurred on Tuesday is an upper secondary school near the Graz train station in the Lend district of Graz. The BORG Dreierschützengasse presents itself on its website as a committed school that strives to meet the needs of the approximately 400 students in the 20 classes beyond just imparting knowledge. "More than elsewhere, we cannot limit ourselves solely to imparting knowledge in our subject areas," it says on the website, referring to the challenge of growing social problems. Additionally, there is a counseling team consisting of a school psychologist, student counseling, and trusted teachers. A youth coaching session is offered once a week. There are also internal school projects like a tutoring system "Students Help Students," where joint learning between better and weaker students is organized.

Graz City Leader: "Terrible Tragedy"

For Graz Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ), the deadly attack in a school with several fatalities is a "terrible tragedy." She was at the crime scene herself late Tuesday morning, as she informed the APA. Many injured were taken to a hospital.

"All emergency organizations are acting prudently," said Kahr. Some of the children and teachers have meanwhile been taken to the Graz Helmut-List-Halle. Family reunifications are taking place in the ASKÖ-Halle. Crisis intervention team members are on duty.

Kahr requested that classes should take place in the coming days, "but the material should not be the focus." "This needs to be dealt with first. It concerns us all. Time must be given to process it."

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(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.