Shock in Graz: Amo run costs ten people life!

Shock in Graz: Amo run costs ten people life!

Graz, Österreich - On June 11, 2025, a killing spree took place at a Gymnasium in Graz, in which ten people lost their lives, including nine young people and a teacher. The perpetrator, a 21-year-old former student, caused a nationwide shock and grief. The incident is considered the most serious attack of this kind in the history of Austria and has sparked violent discussions about weapons laws.

The Austrian government reacted immediately to the tragedy. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Christian Stocker expressed their sympathy, while Graz's main square became a place of mourning. Hundreds of people gathered with candles for the victims. A funeral service in Graz and the three days of state grants, in which all public events were canceled, underline the severity of the event.

background and motifs of the perpetrator

The perpetrator was unemployed and had left the school without a degree. He also legally acquired a pistol and a shotgun. According to the investigation, the authorities found a farewell letter to provide information on his motifs. It is believed that bullying and a difficult childhood could have played a role in his actions, as experts report. Criminal analysis Patricia Staniek emphasized that amo runs generally do not take place indiscriminately, but are often planned for a long time and, last but not least, are motivated by feelings of power or the desire for importance.

around 1.5 million weapons are registered in Austria. This has once again worked out the debate about stricter weapons laws. Bullying also has an alarming combination in the context of amo -runs in other countries, especially in the USA - such incidents in schools have been a constant problem for many years. In contrast, shootings at schools in Austria are a novelty.

The dimension of the problem

amoclets are a complex challenge. Researchers have found that mental illnesses often occur among perpetrators. Schizophrenia and personality disorders are some of the diagnoses listed. For many, loneliness, low self -esteem and the feeling of exclusion are recurring topics. Statistics show that there have been more than 570 shootings in schools in the United States since 2000, in which over 400 people were killed. This illustrates the dimension of the problem, even if access to weapons in the United States remains heavily controversial by the Second Amendment.

Concepts to avoid such tragedies, such as security checks and armed teaching staff, have been incorporated in the debate, but the call for more extensive solutions such as sharper arms laws are pushed into the background. The killing spree in Graz has now faced new challenges in Austria and politics in Austria and raises questions about prevention and effective protective measures.

The company is at a critical point that is about to explore the causes and backgrounds of such violent acts and take measures to prevent future tragedies.

For help with suicide thoughts, those affected can contact the telephone pastoral care that makes telephone numbers available.