11 Dead, Several Injured in Austrian School Shooting; Suspect Dead

A major police operation is underway in Graz, Austria, after a shooting at a secondary school on Tuesday morning left at least 11 people dead and several others seriously injured. The suspect, reported to be a student, is believed to have killed himself, according to Austrian state media.

The shooting rampage began around 10 a.m. local time, prompting a massive response from law enforcement who swarmed a school located on Dreierschützengasse street. Police have confirmed a major operation is ongoing but have yet to officially release the exact number of casualties.

Students and teachers are among those seriously injured in the attack, according to reports from Austrian public broadcaster ORF. The area around the school has been completely cordoned off, and the building was systematically searched by authorities.

A video circulating on social media showed numerous police vehicles racing to the scene. Another clip showed a heavy police presence and ambulances gathered near the school premises.

An eyewitness account emerged from the husband of a teacher who was inside the school during the attack. He told the Krone newspaper that his wife, who barricaded herself in a classroom with her students, heard several distinct gunshots.

Parents of students who were safely evacuated from the building were allowed to reunite with their children at a designated point, while the injured were transported for emergency medical treatment.

This tragic incident occurs just days before the tenth anniversary of another deadly attack in Graz. On June 20, 2015, a man drove his vehicle into a crowd, killing three people and injuring dozens more.