Austria is in mourning after a tragic incident where a 21-year-old man opened fire at his former high school, killing eight students and one adult, and injuring a dozen others before taking his own life. The country's chancellor, Christian Stocker, announced three days of national mourning and a minute of silence to honor the victims. The attack in Graz has been described as a 'national tragedy' and 'unimaginable violence' by officials.

The interior minister, Gerhard Karner, revealed that the shooter's victims were mostly female, with some seriously injured individuals among the casualties. The gunman, a former pupil of the school, acted alone and was found dead at the scene. The mayor of Graz confirmed that an adult, believed to be a teacher, was also among the deceased.

The gunman, armed with two legally owned weapons, opened fire in two classrooms before authorities gave the all-clear after a thorough security operation. Police have not released the shooter's name and emphasized that any speculation about the motive is premature. Reports suggest that the gunman may have been bullied at school.

Local hospitals treated 12 people, including adults and teenagers, with some in critical condition. Emergency surgery was performed on all the injured. Students and staff were evacuated, and crisis intervention teams provided support to those affected. The area around the school was secured by armed police, and public transport was rerouted.

Austria's president, Alexander Van der Bellen, expressed deep sorrow for the loss of young lives and emphasized the need for solidarity and compassion during this difficult time. The incident has reignited discussions about gun ownership in a country where firearms are prevalent among civilians.

While mass shootings are rare in Austria, the tragic event in Graz has shocked the nation and prompted messages of support from European leaders. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, both condemned the violence and called for schools to remain safe havens for learning and growth.