At least 10 people have been killed in a school shooting in Austria, including seven students.
A 21-year old sole suspect, who was a pupil at the school but did not graduate, used two legal firearms during the attack which took place in the Lend district in the southern city of Graz.
Six female and three male victims are among the dead plus the suspect who is believed to have killed himself in a school bathroom, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said in a news conference on Tuesday.
Police said an operation was underway at Dreierschuetzengasse high school.
A policeman is seen close to a school where several people died in a shootingGETTY
Rescue paramedics are seen next to an ambulance car close to a school where several people died in a shootingGETTY
Ambulance cars are seen in a street close to a school in Graz
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Austrian police confirmed several people were killed in a school shooting, with the force evacuating the building and escorting wounded students to a nearby concert hall.
According to police, the operation began around 10am as gunshots were heard inside the school
The shooting took place close to the tenth anniversary of an attack in the city on June 20, 2015, in which three people were killed.
Graz is Austria’s second-biggest city with a population of around 300,000 people.
Policemen are seen in a street close to a school in Graz
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Austria's second city
GB News
Two policemen walk past ambulance cars in a street close to a school
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Graz Mayor Elke Kahr said many injured had also been taken to hospital following the shooting, which she called a "terrible tragedy".
A police helicopter was deployed to the scene and was seen flying overhead.
A meeting point was set up for the students' parents at the ASKÖ Stadium, with police confirming the situation was secure as of 10.32am.
The force added that both students and parents were being supported by a crisis intervention team following the attack.
A policeman is seen close to a school where, according to reports, several people died in a shooting
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Police helicopter spotted over the sceneGETTYAuthorities are understood to have begun an investigation and are continuing to identify the motive of the suspected perpetrator.
Following the incident, the area around the school was cordoned off, and public transport diverted.
Streets surrounding the school were locked down by armed police.
Emergency vehicles continued to make their way to the school shortly before noon.
In a fresh update at 11.45am, Austrian police urged members of the public not to share photos or videos of the attack on social media.
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