**Tragedy Strikes Graz: School Shooting Claims 10 Lives**

In a shocking incident at Dreierschützengasse secondary school, a former student opened fire, resulting in the deaths of ten individuals and injuries to twelve others.

On a seemingly ordinary Tuesday morning in Graz, Austria, panic erupted at Dreierschützengasse secondary school as a 21-year-old former student turned gunman claimed nine lives and subsequently took his own. The attack, which is being described as the deadliest in Austria's recent history, occurred shortly after 10 a.m. local time, sending students and faculty into chaos. Initial confusion characterized the scene, as many thought the sounds of gunfire were mere construction noise. However, as the reality of the situation set in, students described teachers locking classrooms and initiating lockdown protocols.

Witnesses reported hearing between 30 and 40 gunshots, while police response teams swiftly converged on the scene. Authorities managed to control the situation within 17 minutes, ultimately finding the shooter deceased in a school bathroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Tragically, twelve others were injured, and one more succumbed to their injuries hours later.

The shooter, whose identity remains undisclosed, was known to have legal access to the firearms used in the assault. Following a thorough investigation, police uncovered a farewell letter and an unoperational pipe bomb at his residence. Authorities are yet to determine a motive for the horrific act.

As communities mourn and schools reevaluate their safety measures, this tragedy marks a grim chapter in Austria's recent history. The attack’s victims, including mostly students, have not been publicly named as families begin to cope with their loss. Austria is now observing three days of national mourning in response to the attack, emphasizing the need for vigilance and awareness in an effort to prevent such violence in the future.