Austrian investigators slowly build profile of school shooter

Austrian authorities are cautiously assembling a psychological profile of the 21-year-old man responsible for the country's deadliest school shooting, which left 10 people dead before the attacker took his own life. The investigation has been hampered by a lack of people who knew him personally.

The attacker, identified by local media as Arthur A., carried out the massacre at his former secondary school in Graz, Austria's second-largest city. In response to the tragedy, the country has declared three days of national mourning.

During a search of his home, police uncovered a non-functional bomb and plans for a potential bombing, but the motive behind his violent actions remains unclear. Officials confirmed that he did not complete his education at the school. While some media outlets have reported he was bullied and may have sought revenge, police have not confirmed these claims.

Arthur A. lived with his mother in the town of Kalsdorf bei Graz. Neighbours described him as reclusive and physically slight, often seen wearing a cap and headphones. Despite speaking to more than a dozen locals, Reuters found no one who had a personal connection with him.

Sabine Jakubzig, a local council representative, noted on national television that authorities had been unable to locate any friends or acquaintances of the suspect.

According to the Heute newspaper, the man had no known social media presence. Police have declined to comment publicly and are expected to provide more information during a scheduled press conference.

Profil magazine reported that the suspect had recently begun practising at a local shooting range, where one regular recalled being impressed by his shooting accuracy though the young man did not respond when complimented. "He was like someone from another planet", the individual said.

Questions surrounding possible bullying at the school, Dreierschutzengasse, were posed to its deputy head, Norbert Urabl, on Austria's ORF broadcaster. Urabl acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, noting the complex and often subtle nature of bullying. He stressed the importance of early recognition, stating that greater awareness and sensitivity are urgently needed to detect such issues before they escalate.

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