Austria struggles to understand school shooter's motives

Authorities continue investigating the background of the Graz attacker, with few clues and little cooperation from those who knew him.
Text: Óscar Ontañón Docal
Published 2025-06-12

The latest news on Austria. Austrian investigators continue working to reconstruct the life of the young man responsible for this week's deadly school shooting in Graz, but we now know their efforts are being hampered by a lack of testimony from friends or neighbours.


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"He's not at all known in the place, that is, we weren't able to speak to either friends or acquaintances yesterday," local council member Sabine Jakubzig shared with Austrian television. "He was like someone from another planet," Austrian magazine Profil said.

The suspect, a former student who later took his own life, left behind signs of premeditation, but little to explain his actions. Officials have yet to confirm local reports suggesting he felt targeted during his time at school, and describe him as unknown in his own community.

Beautiful aerial panorama view of Graz old town from top of Schlossberg in summer, Graz, Styria, Austria

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