At least five people were killed in a shooting at a high school in the southern Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday, authorities said. The suspected attacker, believed to be a student, died by suicide, according to local reports.
The incident occurred at the BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school, where police were dispatched around 10:00 a.m. local time after reports of gunfire. Special Cobra units, emergency services, and a helicopter were deployed to the scene. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area as the operation continued.
Students and teachers were among the injured, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear. The Austrian Interior Ministry confirmed "several fatalities," including the assailant, but did not provide further details. Local tabloid Kronen Zeitung reported eight deaths, though officials have not verified the figure.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as police evacuated the building. Injured students were reportedly treated at the nearby Helmut List Hall, an events venue.
Graz, Austria’s second-largest city with a population of roughly 300,000, is located about 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Vienna. Police said the investigation is ongoing and urged the public to follow official updates.