Riyadh: Saudi Arabia and the Muslim World League have condemned the deadly school shooting in Austria as a “heinous act,” by sending official messages of condolence and solidarity to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen.
In separate statements, custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and leaders of the League described the June 10 attack as a “disgraceful criminal act” and expressed deep sorrow for the victims and their families.
The tragic shooting took place at the Dreierschuetzengasse secondary school in the Austrian city of Graz, where a 21-year-old former student, armed with a legally owned shotgun and pistol, opened fire before taking his own life. Among the ten people killed were a teacher and nine students aged between 14 and 17. Eleven others were injured, several critically.
In response to the incident, Austria has declared three days of national mourning. Across the country, church bells rang, public transport was halted, and moments of silence were held to honor the victims.
Vigils and memorials drew crowds in Graz and other cities, where mourners laid flowers, lit candles, and left written tributes at sites of remembrance.
The scale of the violence has deeply shocked the nation and triggered renewed public and political debate over Austria’s gun laws, as investigators continue to search for a motive behind one of the most devastating school shootings in the country’s modern history.
The shooting has drawn strong reactions worldwide, with messages of support pouring in from global leaders and institutions.
The widespread condemnation and expressions of solidarity underscore the international grief sparked by the Graz tragedy, as Austria grapples with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.
