Graz school shooting: Farewell letter, pipe bomb found at Austrian gunman’s home

A minute of silence was observed across Austria at 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, with flags flying at half-mast and businesses in Graz shutting in solidarity.

Austrian investigators have discovered a farewell letter and a non-functional pipe bomb at the home of the 21-year-old gunman who killed 10 people in a brutal shooting at his former high school in Graz, deepening concerns over what could have been a far more devastating attack.

According to authorities, both physical and digital versions of a goodbye note addressed to the assailant’s parents were found, but offered no clear motive behind the massacre.

A homemade explosive device was also recovered, though officials confirmed it was incapable of detonation.

The attacker, who had once studied at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school but did not graduate, opened fire with two legally owned firearms, a shotgun and a handgun, on Tuesday.

He later died by suicide in a school restroom.

Nine victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and a tenth, a woman, died later in the hospital.

Among those killed was a 17-year-old French exchange student, his father confirmed. Another twelve individuals were seriously wounded.

Victims were found across multiple levels of the building, including outside, suggesting both targeted and random firing.

As per authorities, psychological support is being offered to survivors, staff, and witnesses as investigations continue.

Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning following what he called “a national tragedy.”

A minute of silence was observed across Austria at 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, with flags flying at half-mast and businesses in Graz shutting in solidarity.

“This is a dark day for Austria,” Stocker said during a visit to the site of the attack. “We grieve as a nation.”

The incident, one of Austria’s deadliest peacetime shootings, has prompted a wave of condolences from European leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were among those who expressed their sympathies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the tragedy “touches my heart.”

Notably, Austria, home to 9.2 million people, ranks among the world’s safest countries.

Mass shootings are rare, but the attack in Graz follows a disturbing trend of school violence seen across Europe in recent years, including fatal incidents in France, Slovakia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Serbia.

Austrian authorities are now focused on piecing together the shooter’s background, mental state, and planning. As the nation mourns, investigators continue their efforts to understand the motive behind this devastating act of violence.