UAE condemns Austria school shooting that killed 9 people
The UAE has strongly condemned the school shooting incident that took place in the Austrian city of Graz, which resulted in 9 fatalities and many injuries.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the country's strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence targeting innocent people.
The Ministry expressed "its sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of this sinful criminal act, to the Austrian government and the friendly Austrian people, and its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured".
The incident occured when a former student opened fire and left nine people dead, authorities said Tuesday, in a rare case of deadly gun violence in the Alpine country.
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Heavily armed police, a helicopter and paramedics descended upon the school in Graz, where 10 people, including the alleged lone shooter were killed, regional police said.
Six of the victims were female and three male, authorities later confirmed without specifying their ages. Twelve people suffered severe injuries.
Police said the situation was "secure" and support was being provided to witnesses and those affected.
The suspect acted alone and took his own life in the school toilet, police said, adding his motive remained unknown.
Later on Tuesday, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker declared three days of national mourning to remember the victims, saying the country had witnessed "an act of unimaginable violence".
According to the police, the alleged perpetrator is a 21-year-old Austrian from the wider Graz region. The perpetrator used two weapons he had owned legally to carry out the attack.
The suspected shooter was a former student at the school, but had not finished his studies, Interior Minister Gerhard Karnert told reporters.
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