Austrian authorities have uncovered evidence of thwarted bomb attack plans at the home of the suspected gunman responsible for Tuesday’s deadly school shooting in Graz. Police discovered abandoned bomb-making plans, a non-functional pipe bomb, and a “farewell” letter and video during a search of the suspect’s residence.
The attack at the Dreierschützengasse secondary school resulted in ten fatalities—the highest death toll in Austria’s recent history—and eleven injuries. The 21-year-old former student perpetrator took his own life in a school bathroom following the assault.
The victims included six females and three males, with a seventh female succumbing to injuries later in a hospital. Among the deceased were a teacher and nine students aged 14 to 17; one victim was a Polish citizen, while the others were Austrian.
Austria observed three days of national mourning, culminating in a nationwide minute of silence on Wednesday. Flags flew at half-mast across the country. In Graz’s main square, following the moment of remembrance, one woman shared her grief with BBC News, recounting the loss of a 17-year-old she knew.
The suspect, a Styria native, lived with his Austrian mother. His Armenian father was not part of the household since the parents’ separation. Police confirmed the shooter legally owned the pistol and shotgun used in the attack, possessing a valid firearms license. The gunman, whose identity remains undisclosed, was not a graduate of the school and had no prior police record, according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
Following the tragedy, enhanced security measures have been implemented at schools throughout Graz.