Bloodshed at the School's Doorstep
Hostile Incident in Graz: Additionally, indications of bomb plotting uncovered
Graz (dpa) - In the chilling aftermath of the rampage at his old school, authorities uncovered a chilling revelation: the gunman, aged 21, had also been plotting a bomb attack. Police discovered an inert pipe bomb and bomb-making plans in the perpetrator's residence, though it appears these sinister designs were never carried out.
The bloody carnage unfolded at the school on Tuesday, claiming the lives of nine teenagers aged 14 to 17 and a teacher. The despicable perpetrator then took his own life at the scene.
On High Alert
The darkness that lingered at the school's doorstep cast a shadow over the entire nation. Fearing copycat incidents, authorities received several threats, prompting a reinforcement of school protection and mobilizing around 400 special forces across the country on high alert.
The motive behind this heinous act remains shrouded in mystery. Though, analysts scoured through the perpetrator's home and found farewell messages, no clear insight into the trigger for the attack was gleaned. Unsubstantiated reports of the 21-year-old being a victim of bullying have yet to be confirmed.
Moment of Silence With Dischordant Bells
The deceased former student had attended the high school until two years ago and had repeated a grade several times, said Franz Ruf, a senior official from the Ministry of the Interior, on the radio station Ö1. The ungraduated malefactor resided with his mother, as stated by police.
A yearning silence marked the day after the rampage, as public life in Austria paused for a minute in many places. In Vienna, 900 buses, trams, and subway trains temporarily stopped. The bells of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, as well as bells in Graz, were rung in solemn mourning.
The eleven wounded have all stabilized, as reported by Kages, the hospital operator. Nevertheless, the majority of the injured continue to receive intensive care.
Police Recount the Bloodbath
In the somber wake of the devastating incident, police shared a more in-depth account of their response. Two patrol cars rushed to the scene mere minutes after the first radio call about a potential amok situation, which was received precisely at 10:00 AM.
As practices dictate, the officers immediately penetrated the school building (at 10:08 AM) and refused to await reinforcements. The first special forces of Cobra arrived at the school at 10:09 AM. A teacher then guided the officers to the 3rd floor, where the horrors had unfolded. The culprit was discovered lifeless in a bathroom at 10:13 AM, and the first corridors were secured for emergency doctors at 10:21 AM.
A preliminary examination suggested that everything proceeded as the Austrian police had trained over the years. Nevertheless, Cobra commander Bernhard Treibenreif conceded that this offered little comfort given the number of casualties. "What happened cannot be prevented by the fastest police force in the world," Treibenreif added.
Voices Call for Arms Ban
In the tumultuous aftermath, a heated debate about the country's gun laws emerged hesitantly. The Communist Mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, advocated for a sweeping ban on personal weapons. "Military-grade weapons have no place in the hands of civilians," she passionately declared to broadcaster ORF. A Green Party MP also showed support for the abolition of private gun ownership, expressing their concern in an interview with ORF. As per the Interior Ministry, around 1.5 million weapons are currently registered in Austria, with the country's population reaching 9.2 million inhabitants. Austria's gun laws are generally liberal but require permits for certain weapons, though shotguns remain exempt. The perpetrator owned both legal firearms.
School psychologists are growing increasingly alarmed as they witness a surge in instances where students feel neglected, invisible, and alienated, said Josef Zollneritsch of the School Medical Service of the Styrian Education Directorate. This breeding ground for latent or open violence necessitates an immediate escalation of prevention efforts. There has been a marked increase in social-emotional difficulties among students, Zollneritsch noted.
- The general news about the violent incident at the school has led to a discussion in politics regarding tighter gun control, with figures like the Communist Mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, advocating for a ban on personal weapons.
- The chilling discovery of bomb-making plans and an inert pipe bomb in the perpetrator's residence, amidst the backdrop of the crime-and-justice investigation, raises questions about whether this was a single act of violence or part of a larger plot.
