Police Investigate Shooter's Possible Connections During Attack

As investigations continue into the tragic events of Tuesday, which marked the deadliest attack in Austria's modern history, police are piecing together the timeline and actions of the shooter, a 21-year-old man.

At 9:43 AM, the individual entered his former school through the main entrance, carrying a backpack containing two firearms--a pistol and a shotgun--along with ammunition. At the time, around 400 people were present in the school, as detailed in a press briefing by the police on Thursday.

The perpetrator proceeded to a bathroom on the third floor, where he equipped himself for the attack with a weapon belt, a hunting knife, shooting glasses, and headphones. Authorities revealed that he had legally purchased the firearms earlier in the spring, after obtaining a gun license, which followed a psychiatric evaluation. Since March, he had reportedly been practicing at a shooting range in Graz.

Fifteen minutes after entering the premises, at 9:57 AM, he emerged from the bathroom and opened fire. After shooting at individuals in the corridors, he forced his way into a locked classroom to continue his assault.

According to Michael Lohnegger, head of the state police in Styria, the shooter repeatedly fired until the door was opened. The shooting lasted approximately ten minutes, after which the assailant returned to the bathroom and took his own life, still possessing remaining ammunition.

In the aftermath, two women visited St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna to honor the shooting victims, while Austria declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy.

Authorities initially believe that the shooter acted alone; however, due to his use of headphones during the attack, they are investigating whether he had any communication with others at the time, as reported by Reuters. The police noted that he had few friends but was active in the gaming community.

Described as living a reclusive life, the assailant reportedly shunned real-world interactions in favor of virtual ones. He had dropped out of school three years prior after having to repeat a grade. One of the ten victims was a teacher with whom he had prior acquaintance.

During a search of his residence, police discovered farewell messages in both digital and written forms. However, no clear motive for the attack has been identified. Additionally, investigators found a handwritten, detailed plan for the school shooting, along with a non-functional pipe bomb. Authorities believe he possessed all necessary components to potentially construct a viable explosive device.