Latest news with #MichaelLohnegger
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Austria gunman had 'significant passion' for school shootings, police say
A 21-year-old gunman who killed nine students and a teacher at his former school in Austria had developed a fascination and "significant passion" for such shootings in recent years, investigators say. Police say the former pupil planned at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz down to the smallest detail - but are still uncertain as to the motive for his rampage. They have also flagged a series of copycat threats that are causing disruption. After the shooter's body was discovered, investigators found he still had 24 bullets in two magazines and another 18 loose bullets for his Glock handgun, along with 17 bullets for his shotgun, according to Michael Lohnegger, the head of Styria province's criminal police office. This has led to questions about why he decided to stop shooting when he did. Detectives continue to trawl through a string of social media accounts attributed to the man - who has not been identified - to determine which are genuine. They can "say with certainty that, over the years, he developed a significant passion in general terms for the phenomenon of school shootings," Mr Lohnegger said. "He glorifies not just the acts in general, but also the perpetrators who carried out these acts." Read more from Sky News: Eleven people were also wounded in the shootings last week, after which the gunman also died by suicide. Two of those wounded have so far been released from hospital. Two remain in intensive care. Police also highlighted an ongoing issue with copycats making threats. In Graz alone, their threats have triggered around 30 police interventions in the past few days, the Styrian Police Department said. Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker said gun laws in the country, which are among the more liberal in the EU, will be tightened in the wake of the attack.
Euronews
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Austrian gunman was obsessed with school shootings, police say
According to police, the gunman was fascinated by school shootings, but his motive remains a mystery. After killing 10 people at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, the perpetrator killed himself. He left the school three years earlier. The incident in Austria's second-largest city was the deadliest mass shooting in the country's recent history. Although his motive for the attack remains unclear, investigators can 'say with certainty that, over the years, he developed a passion for school shootings,' said Michael Lohnegger, the head of Styria province's criminal police office. 'He glorified not just the acts in general, but also the perpetrators who carried out these acts." The gunman had planned the attack meticulously, according to investigators, but they did not know why he chose the date he did for the massacre or why he stopped shooting when he did - the gunman still had many additional bullets. The shooter had no prior criminal record. During a search of his house, police found plans for an explosive attack as well as a non-functioning pipe bomb. Officers also discovered a digital and handwritten suicide note addressed to his parents, although the Director of Public Security Franz Ruf said that it offered no motive. Nine of the 11 people wounded in last week's attack remain in hospital, Lohnegger said on Tuesday, adding that they were not in critical condition. The shooter used two firearms he legally owned to carry out the attack. On Monday, Chancellor Christian Stocker vowed to tighten Austria's gun laws. In the wake of the attack, the mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, called for a complete ban on private weapons. Gun licenses are "issued too quickly," she said last week. The European Water Resilience Strategy presented this month by the European Commission aims to reduce water pollution, prevent waste and make water accessible to all. The EU's executive body promises to help member states better implement the 2000 Water Framework Directive and three related laws. It will also promote more investment, given the seriousness of the situation. Only 37% of the EU's surface waters have a good ecological status and only 29% have a good chemical status. The continent is the fastest-warming region in the world due to climate change, which has increased the number of water-related natural disasters. Currently, 30% of the EU suffers from water scarcity due to prolonged droughts. Meanwhile, devastating floods caused €325 billion in damage between 1980 and 2023. "Everyone knows the emergency we are in and the investments needed in the sector. We have the numbers," said Hildegard Bentele (Germany/EPP), a centre-right lawmaker who chairs the MEP Water Group at the European Parliament. "We can react with the next EU budget and make better use of Cohesion Policy, because we have seen that the funds have not been used for the necessary investments," she added. According to the European Commission, around €55 billion is spent on water investments across Europe, but there is an annual gap of €23 billion additional funding needed. To address this gap, the EU executive will allocate a larger share of the Cohesion Policy funds, which are intended for less wealthy regions, to water management. In addition, the European Investment Bank will launch a new programme: €15 billion will be available over the period 2025-2027 and it aims to attract a further €25 billion from commercial investors. Industry and agriculture are two sectors that use a lot of fresh water and also contribute to its pollution with chemicals. One of the main issues the Commission intends to address is water pollution, particularly caused by chemicals called PFAS or 'forever chemicals'. "PFAS are substances dubbed forever pollutants because they don't easily break down. So they tend to accumulate over time in the environment. Research has shown that exposure to certain types of PFAS causes serious health problems," said Amandine Hess, Euronews reporter who covered the communication. "The Commission is planning to launch a public-private partnership to support innovation, to clean up pollution from PFAS and other chemicals. The 'polluter pays' principle will be applied, so it means that public funding would be used only for the sites where it has not been possible to identify who is responsible for the pollution," she added. NGOs and the European Green Party say the strategy falls far short of providing concrete answers to the complex problems surrounding water management, pointing to a lack of clear legal requirements and a failure to tackle pollution at source. "The environmentalists are calling for strict management of fertilisers and chemicals. On the other hand, the Commission call to increase water efficiency by at least 10% by 2030 but does not set clear binding targets," said Amandine Hess. MEP Hildegard Bentele admits that a 10% target for water efficiency is "a modest good intention" and acknowledges that member states are lagging behind in implementing legislation, going so far as to say that "we could sanction member states that do not meet the targets". "We are behind schedule, we have not seen much progress in the last 20 years. That is why we need to move faster. I would like to see the Commission more rigorous in this regard in the coming years, including in the new strategy",said MEP Hildegard Bentele. Watch the video here! Journalist: Isabel Marques da Silva Content production: Pilar Montero López Video production: Zacharia Vigneron Graphism: Loredana Dumitru Editorial coordination: Ana Lázaro Bosch and Jeremy Fleming-Jones
17-06-2025
Austria gunman had become fascinated with school shootings, investigators say
VIENNA -- A former student who killed nine students and a teacher in Austria a week ago and then took his own life had become fascinated with school shootings in recent years, but his motive for the rampage remains unclear, investigators said Tuesday. Police have said the 21-year-old gunman planned last Tuesday's roughly seven-minute attack at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, which he left three years ago, down to the smallest detail. But much remains uncertain: among other things, why he chose that particular date and why he stopped shooting when he did. After his body was found, investigators found that the shooter still had 24 bullets in two magazines and another 18 loose bullets for his Glock handgun, as well as 17 bullets for his shotgun, said Michael Lohnegger, the head of Styria province's criminal police office. A few minutes before the shooting began, the gunman took a picture showing his legs and boots in a school bathroom and posted it to a social media account, Lohnegger said. Investigators are still working through some 30 other accounts attributed to him, created between 2019 and this year, to determine which are genuine. They can 'say with certainty that, over the years, he developed a significant passion in general terms for the phenomenon of school shootings,' Lohnegger said. 'He glorifies not just the acts in general, but also the perpetrators who carried out these acts." However, he said, police still have no information on his motive for the shooting. Eleven people were wounded last week. As of Tuesday, two had been released from hospitals but nine were still being treated, two of whom were still in intensive care, Lohnegger said. Their lives were not in danger. Chancellor Christian Stocker said Monday that Austria will tighten its gun laws, which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The gunman owned the two firearms he used legally.
Hamilton Spectator
17-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Austria gunman had become fascinated with school shootings, investigators say
VIENNA (AP) — A former student who killed nine students and a teacher in Austria a week ago and then took his own life had become fascinated with school shootings in recent years, but his motive for the rampage remains unclear, investigators said Tuesday. Police have said the 21-year-old gunman planned last Tuesday's roughly seven-minute attack at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, which he left three years ago, down to the smallest detail. But much remains uncertain: among other things, why he chose that particular date and why he stopped shooting when he did. After his body was found, investigators found that the shooter still had 24 bullets in two magazines and another 18 loose bullets for his Glock handgun, as well as 17 bullets for his shotgun, said Michael Lohnegger, the head of Styria province's criminal police office. A few minutes before the shooting began, the gunman took a picture showing his legs and boots in a school bathroom and posted it to a social media account, Lohnegger said. Investigators are still working through some 30 other accounts attributed to him, created between 2019 and this year, to determine which are genuine. They can 'say with certainty that, over the years, he developed a significant passion in general terms for the phenomenon of school shootings,' Lohnegger said. 'He glorifies not just the acts in general, but also the perpetrators who carried out these acts.' However, he said, police still have no information on his motive for the shooting. Eleven people were wounded last week. As of Tuesday, two had been released from hospitals but nine were still being treated, two of whom were still in intensive care, Lohnegger said. Their lives were not in danger. Chancellor Christian Stocker said Monday that Austria will tighten its gun laws , which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The gunman owned the two firearms he used legally. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
San Francisco Chronicle
17-06-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Austria gunman had become fascinated with school shootings, investigators say
VIENNA (AP) — A former student who killed nine students and a teacher in Austria a week ago and then took his own life had become fascinated with school shootings in recent years, but his motive for the rampage remains unclear, investigators said Tuesday. Police have said the 21-year-old gunman planned last Tuesday's roughly seven-minute attack at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, which he left three years ago, down to the smallest detail. But much remains uncertain: among other things, why he chose that particular date and why he stopped shooting when he did. After his body was found, investigators found that the shooter still had 24 bullets in two magazines and another 18 loose bullets for his Glock handgun, as well as 17 bullets for his shotgun, said Michael Lohnegger, the head of Styria province's criminal police office. A few minutes before the shooting began, the gunman took a picture showing his legs and boots in a school bathroom and posted it to a social media account, Lohnegger said. Investigators are still working through some 30 other accounts attributed to him, created between 2019 and this year, to determine which are genuine. They can 'say with certainty that, over the years, he developed a significant passion in general terms for the phenomenon of school shootings,' Lohnegger said. 'He glorifies not just the acts in general, but also the perpetrators who carried out these acts." However, he said, police still have no information on his motive for the shooting. Eleven people were wounded last week. As of Tuesday, two had been released from hospitals but nine were still being treated, two of whom were still in intensive care, Lohnegger said. Their lives were not in danger. Chancellor Christian Stocker said Monday that Austria will tighten its gun laws, which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The gunman owned the two firearms he used legally.
