Authorities in Austria have discovered a pipe bomb and a farewell letter during a search of the residence of the perpetrator behind the tragic school shooting in Graz. The bomb was reportedly non-functional, according to officials.
The farewell letter, found in both physical and digital forms, was addressed to the shooter's parents, as confirmed by Austrian police. The 21-year-old gunman, a former student of the school, opened fire yesterday, killing ten people and injuring eleven others. Nine of the wounded are currently in intensive care.
The victims included children aged 15 to 17 and a teacher nearing retirement. The shooter, who took his own life after the attack, was not previously known to law enforcement. Reports suggest he sent a farewell video to his mother before the incident, in which he declared his actions were of his "own free will."
The motive remains unclear, with unconfirmed media reports suggesting bullying as a possible cause. The shooter legally owned the firearms used in the attack.
Austria has declared three days of national mourning, with a minute of silence observed today at 10:00 AM. Public transport halted, and flags flew at half-mast across the country.