The suspect, armed with a shotgun and pistol, opened fire on Tuesday at Dreierschützengasse high school.
He was a former student of the same school although he did not complete his studies, authorities said.
According to Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s Interior Ministry, the shooter’s letter bid farewell to his parents.
“But no motive can be inferred from the farewell letter,” Ruf said, adding that investigations are ongoing.
Rifles and shotguns are permitted with a firearms license, a valid hunting licence or for members of shooting clubs.
At the residence of a 21-year-old shooter who killed 10 people in a mass shooting at a high school in Graz before killing himself, Austrian police discovered a homemade bomb that was not working and a farewell letter, authorities reported Wednesday.
The attack caused about a dozen injuries, some of them serious.
The suspect opened fire at Dreierschützengasse High School on Tuesday while carrying a shotgun and a pistol.
Authorities stated that although he did not finish his education, he was a former student of the same school.
While investigators search for motivation, people grieve.
At ten in the morning, there was a minute of silence. A. Wednesday local time for one of the most deadly attacks to hit Austria since World War II.
Franz Ruf, the Austrian Interior Ministry’s public security director, said the shooter’s letter said goodbye to his parents.
“But no motive can be inferred from the farewell letter,” Ruf stated, adding that inquiries are still being conducted.
The police are also investigating whether the victims were randomly selected or targeted.
In honor of the victims, residents of Graz are holding vigils in the city’s main square, lighting candles and placing flowers as part of Austria’s three-day national mourning. People waited in line to give the survivors blood.
What are the gun laws in Austria?
Meanwhile, the shooter’s use of firearms that were lawfully owned has reignited discussion about Austria’s gun regulations.
According to the Small Arms Survey study, Austria has almost 30 civilian firearms per 100 citizens.
In the Alpine nation, revolvers, pistols, and semi-automatic weapons are permitted with a permit, but automatic weapons and pump action guns are prohibited.
Members of shooting clubs or those with a current hunting license or firearms license are allowed to carry rifles and shotguns.
Kieran Burke was the editor.
