Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Egypt extends condolences to Austria following school shooting
Egypt has expressed its deepest condolences following the tragic shooting that took place on Tuesday, at a school in the city of Graz, Austria, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
In an official statement, Egypt conveyed its heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the government and people of Austria, as well as to the families of the victims and those injured in the incident. Egypt also wished a swift recovery for the wounded and affirmed its support for Austria during this difficult time.
Ten people have been killed in a school shooting in the Austrian city of Graz, police have said.
The incident took place at Dreierschützengasse secondary school in the north-west of the city, BBC reported.
Six females and three males were killed in the attack, according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
Police said the 21-year-old gunman took his own life in a school bathroom shortly after.
A further 28 people are being treated for their injuries in hospital, according to local media reports.
The gunman was an Austrian man and former Dreierschützengasse student who didn't graduate from the school, Karner told a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
In the same conference, officers confirmed the gunman was not known to police before the attack.
Current information suggests the gunman legally owned the two guns used in the attack and had a firearms licence, police added.
Three days of mourning have been declared in Austria, and a nationwide minute's silence will be held on Wednesday at 10:00am local time in memory of the victims.
Flags on the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, where the President Alexander Van der Bellen has his office, will fly at half mast.
The school where the attack took place will remain closed until further notice, according to Austria's Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr.
The Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said Tuesday was a "dark day in [the] history of our country" and declared the shooting a "national tragedy".
"A school is more than just a place to learn - it is a space for trust, for feeling comfortable and for having a future," he told the conference, adding this safe place had been "violated".
"In these difficult hours, being human is our strongest point," he said.