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Lessons in fear: School shootings are no longer just an American tragedy, Austria just another example

As school shootings become increasingly frequent around the world, no country can afford to assume its classrooms are immune to the threat of violence read more People light candles in honour of the victims of a deadly shooting at a secondary school, at the main square in Graz, Austria, June 11, 2025. Reuters In recent decades, schools, once considered sanctuaries for learning and growth, have become sites of unthinkable violence. The global increase in school shootings has challenged the assumption that such tragedies are confined to specific countries or regions. The shooting at an Austrian school on Tuesday came as a reminder that schools may no longer be safe havens for learning. A deeper analysis of recent incidents reveals a troubling trend: educational institutions worldwide are increasingly vulnerable to mass violence, often perpetrated by young individuals with access to firearms and driven by complex motives ranging from personal grievances to mental health crises. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The United States: A relentless pattern In the United States, school shootings have become tragically routine. According to CNN, by mid-May 2025, there had already been more than 20 school shootings that year alone, affecting both K–12 schools and college campuses. The Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety provide data showing hundreds of such incidents annually, with 2024 marking one of the deadliest years since tracking began. Education Week reported 56 shootings during the year, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, while Everytown documented over two hundred incidents. Among the most notable tragedies in 2024 was the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, where a 15-year-old student fatally shot a teacher and a classmate before dying by suicide. Another horrifying event occurred in Texas, where an 18-year-old shot and killed several students in a high school, allegedly in retaliation for ongoing bullying. These incidents not only highlight the recurring threat of school violence in US but also highlight the accessibility of firearms to minors, a recurring theme in nearly all-American school shootings. The widespread availability of guns is one of the clearest contributing factors to the frequency of these attacks. The Small Arms Survey shows that US has more guns than people, with approximately 150 firearms for every one hundred citizens. Researchers such as Marieke Liem from Leiden University consistently link high firearm availability to increased rates of both domestic and public shootings, including those in educational settings. The country's gun ownership culture, coupled with deeply polarised political views on gun control complicates efforts to create uniform policies aimed at preventing these tragedies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Europe: An emerging crisis While Europe has not seen school shootings on the same scale or frequency as US, the continent is no longer insulated from such violence. The shooting at BORG Dreierschutzengasse , a high school in Graz, Austria, on Tuesday marked one of the deadliest in the nation's history. A former student returned to the school armed with legally acquired weapons, killing 10 individuals before taking his own life. This incident shocked Austria and prompted a national mourning period, reflecting the rarity and gravity of such violence in the region. European nations generally enforce stricter gun control laws, which has historically limited the prevalence of shootings. Austria, for example, ranks 12th in global civilian gun ownership, far behind US. Yet, even with tighter regulations, countries like Germany, Serbia, Czechia, Finland and Sweden have all experienced school-related shootings in the past two decades, many of which mirror the lone-gunman model so familiar in the American context. In Serbia, two school shootings in May 2023 profoundly disturbed the nation. In the capital Belgrade, a 13-year-old boy killed eight classmates and a security guard using weapons owned by his father. Just days later, another shooter opened fire in a nearby village, killing and wounding more than 20 people in total. These events prompted the Serbian government to introduce tighter restrictions on firearm possession and usage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to reports cited in multiple European news outlets, both shooters exhibited signs of premeditation and emotional instability raising concerns about gaps in psychological screening and preventive measures. Sweden also experienced a deadly school shooting in February 2025, when a former student killed 11 people and injured six more at Campus Risbergska, an adult education centre in Orebro. The attacker reportedly struggled with mental health issues and had a history of disconnection from educational institutions. Authorities described his actions as motivated by suicidal intent rather than ideological extremism, but the consequences were no less devastating for the community. Czechia was similarly shaken in December 2023, when a 24-year-old student opened fire at Charles University in Prague, resulting in multiple fatalities. Authorities attributed his motivations to a fascination with foreign mass shootings, particularly those in US, suggesting a disturbing trend of global imitation. These incidents collectively demonstrate that while school shootings in Europe remain statistically rare, they are increasingly appearing in a growing number of countries, signalling a shift in global patterns of violence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Common themes across borders Despite differing frequencies, school shootings across the globe share strikingly similar characteristics. One common thread is the presence of mental health issues among perpetrators. In both American and European contexts, attackers are often young males who exhibit signs of depression, anxiety, or social alienation prior to their acts of violence. Reports suggest that the experience in majority of the incidents including the Graz shooting and others mentioned above, mental health struggles are a recurring factor that often go unaddressed until it is too late. Another shared element is the use of legally owned firearms, frequently obtained from family members. This was true in both the Belgrade and Graz shootings. In US, many school shooters also acquire weapons from within their homes, bypassing background checks or secure storage requirements. This points to the need for better enforcement of gun safety laws and more robust systems for identifying at-risk individuals. Exposure to media coverage of mass shootings has also been cited as a motivator in multiple incidents. The shooter in Prague, for instance, was reportedly influenced by coverage of American shootings and had documented his admiration for previous attackers. This copycat phenomenon, amplified by social media and news reporting, exacerbates the spread of violent ideologies and makes prevention even more difficult. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Historical context and global comparisons While school shootings are often associated with lone actors, some of the most devastating attacks globally have been rooted in terrorism. The 2004 Beslan School Siege in Russia and the 2014 Peshawar School Massacre in Pakistan were politically motivated assaults that resulted in hundreds of deaths. The FBI categorises such attacks under terrorism due to their intent to instill fear and influence government or societal outcomes. While distinct from the lone-wolf model prevalent in Western school shootings, these incidents add to the narrative that schools, regardless of geography are increasingly targeted in acts of extreme violence. Europe has also seen several attacks over the past two decades that reflect both psychological and ideological motivations. Germany experienced deadly shootings in Erfurt in 2002, Coburg in 2003 and Emsdetten in 2006. Finland faced its own tragedies in Jokela in 2007 and Kauhajoki in 2008. These events led to legislative changes, including bans on certain types of firearms and the implementation of psychological evaluations for young gun license applicants. Ongoing prevention measures and their limitations Governments and educational institutions around the world are working to implement preventative strategies, yet challenges persist. In the United States, many schools have increased security through metal detectors, surveillance systems and armed guards. Active shooter drills have become routine and some districts have established threat assessment teams to identify students who might pose a danger to themselves or others. However, these measures vary widely in their effectiveness and often raise concerns about turning schools into fortress-like environments that may harm the learning experience. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD European countries have also responded with a combination of legal reforms and mental health interventions. Following the Belgrade shootings, Serbia introduced sweeping gun control measures. Germany and Finland took similar steps after their respective tragedies. Nonetheless, experts like Marieke Liem caution that no measure can fully eliminate the risk as long as firearms remain accessible and social systems fail to provide adequate mental health support. The global discourse on school shootings is increasingly recognising that no country is immune. Differences in gun laws and cultural attitudes may influence the frequency of incidents, but the root causes—mental health issues, social isolation and the desire for notoriety—transcend national boundaries. Human and societal toll The consequences of school shootings extend far beyond the immediate fatalities. Survivors often suffer from long-term psychological trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Families and communities must grapple with the emotional and financial aftermath, including medical bills, funeral costs, and long-term therapy. Educational systems are also impacted. Fear of violence contributes to school absenteeism, lower academic performance, and increased teacher turnover. CNN has reported that some American educators have left the profession altogether due to fear and frustration over school safety. The societal cost of school shootings, therefore, encompasses not only the loss of life but also the erosion of trust in educational institutions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rising incidents The growing frequency of school shootings around the world forces a sobering reevaluation of school safety. While US remains the epicentre of such violence, recent tragedies in Austria, Serbia, Sweden and Czechia demonstrate that the problem is spreading. A combination of gun availability, mental health crises and social alienation creates fertile ground for these attacks, regardless of national borders.