Nine people have been killed and dozens more injured at an Austrian school, in one of the worst mass shootings in the country’s history.
Special forces police descended on the school in Dreierschuetzengasse in the city of Graz shortly before 10am local time this morning after reports of gunshots.
The suspected perpetrator, a student who has been described by local media as a victim of bullying, is believed to have killed himself in the toilet after opening fire on two classrooms.
n chilling videos emerging online, the sound of gunshots rings out around the school campus, while others show bodies lined up on stretchers.
Pupils can also be seen running for their lives from the school as heavily armed cops scour the corridors.
Police have given a news conference in Graz, confirming that several people have been killed and others wounded, including pupils and teachers, in the high school attack.
Cops also confirmed that the school has now been secured and there is no further danger.
Police, who evacuated the building this morning, deployed their specialist Cobra tactical unit, which handles attacks and hostage situations.
Some 158 paramedics were at the scene today, while another 31 crisis intervention staff and 65 emergency vehicles were operating.
Students who managed to escape the violent rampage have been reunited with their parents.
Those injured are said to be receiving treatment in the Helmut List hall – an events venue close to the school, while a disaster alert has been issued for local hospitals.
According to news outlet Krone, two hospital wards are over capacity following the shooting.
Other images and videos show paramedics and police arriving at the scene, while another clip shows a helicopter flying over the area.
Newspaper Krone spoke to a teacher at the school who described being barricaded inside a classroom with students after hearing gunshots.
The Austrian government has also reacted to the shooting, with Chancellor Christian Stocker cancelling his appointments for the day.
The interior and education ministers are understood to be on their way to Graz.
Mayor Elkhe Kahr called the incident ‘a terrible tragedy’.
‘All emergency organisations are acting with caution.
‘Some of the children and teachers have since been taken to the Helmut List Hall in Graz. Family reunifications are taking place in the ASKÖ Hall. Crisis intervention team members are on duty,’ she added.
Graz is the second largest city in Austria with a and is located in the southeast of the country.
The crime occurred shortly before the tenth anniversary of the Graz rampage on June 20, 2015, which left three people dead and which many Graz residents still remember today.
