The 21-year-old who carried out Austria’s deadliest school massacre sent a chilling video to his mum just moments before he launched his tragic attack – but she wasn’t able to warn the police in time
The mum of a drop-out believed to have returned to his old school with a gun before launching a bloodbath was sent a video revealing her son’s horror plan.
At least 9 students and an adult were massacred during a gun rampage in Graz, Austria, on Tuesday, before the suspect shot himself in a bathroom. Investigators said the killer, named locally as Artur A, sent his mother a video moments before he unleashed the massacre at the BORG Dreierschützengasse secondary school. The shooter, believed to be a 21-year-old Austrian national, also left a “farewell letter” to his parents but they did not have enough time to warn the police.
His mum immediately called the police after being left confused by his message, but she opened the video 24 minutes after it was sent, according to Austrian news outlet Heute. He reportedly told his mother that he was acting “of his own free will” in the clip.
The shooter carried out his savage attack just moments after he sent the clip to his mum, meaning by the time she called the cops he had already ambushed two classrooms. Police also discovered a letter when they searched the 21-year-old’s home on Tuesday night, but a senior police official shared it did not bring cops closer to finding a motive for the attack.
The public security director at Austria’s Interior Ministry, Franz Ruf, confirmed to a local Austrian channel that the letter was also found during the search. He said: “He says goodbye to his parents. But no motive can be inferred from the farewell letter, and that is a matter for further investigations.” Ruf was not able to confirm whether his victims had been shot at random or targeted.
Artur A, 21, had initially planned to take a pipe bomb to the school, but reportedly left the bomb behind along with the “farewell letter” for his parents.
The first victim of yesterday’s horror shooting has been pictured. Kosovan teenager Lea Bajrami, 15, is the first victim to be named and details of the remaining people have not been disclosed. Her heartbroken aunt shared a tribute to the 15-year-old on Facebook.
She said: “Today, my niece Lea tragically lost her life in the attack in Graz. We pray for her soul and express our gratitude to all those who share our pain during these difficult times.”
Nine of his dead victims were children aged 15-17 and the adult was a 47-year-old female teacher. At least 11 others were left seriously injured in the massacre and were described as stable in hospital today.
Friends have suggested the shooter could have carried out his brutal attack as an act of revenge after he dropped out of school and failed to pass his sixth form exams.
Chilling videos from the secondary school showed the harrowing screams that echoed through the school during the rampage. Artur A, who carried out the worst school shooting rampage in Austria’s history, was thought to have been carrying a legally-owned rifle and pistol.