In a shocking update following the tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria, police have uncovered abandoned plans for a bomb attack at the home of the 21-year-old suspect. The investigation revealed a non-functional pipe bomb among other disturbing items, including a goodbye letter and video, detailed in an official statement by local authorities. The shooting, which occurred at Dreierschützengasse secondary school on Tuesday, resulted in the deaths of ten individuals and marked the deadliest event of its kind in Austria's recent history.
The suspect, identified as a former student of the school, reportedly took his own life in a bathroom shortly after the attack. Officials have yet to determine a clear motive behind this tragic event, which also left 11 others injured. The fatalities included a mix of students and a teacher; six females and three males died during the incident, with one more female succumbing to injuries later in the hospital.
As the nation mourns, a three-day period of mourning was announced featuring a nationwide minute of silence held on Wednesday at 10:00 local time to honor the victims. Many in Graz expressed their grief, with one local resident recounting her heartbreak upon learning that a 17-year-old boy she knew was among those killed.
Authorities confirmed that the gunman resided with his single mother in the Graz-Umgebung District and had a firearms license, possessing legally acquired weapons—a pistol and a shotgun. He had no previous encounters with law enforcement, further complicating the tragedy.
In light of the heightened security concerns, local police have ramped up protective measures at schools throughout Graz, seeking to prevent any further incidents in the wake of this devastating attack.
