At least nine dead in Austria school shooting
Police in the town of Sankt Pölten, lower Austria, have confirmed that multiple people have been killed and several injured in a shooting at a local secondary school this morning. The alleged shooter, who is now in custody, is said to be a 16-year-old student at the school. Authorities are still responding to the incident and the situation is evolving.
Children trapped in classrooms
Eye-witnesses have reported that the shooter, armed with a firearm and a knife, opened fire in a hallway of the school, targeting students who had gathered for a morning assembly. Many students fled or hid in classrooms throughout the building, with some remaining trapped inside as the suspect refused to surrender.
Police respond
Police were alerted to the shooting at 9:34am local time and responded swiftly, engaging in a brief standoff with the suspect in the school's parking lot. The suspect was apprehended without incident and is currently in custody.
National tragedy
The shooting has shocked the nation and prompted a national conversation on gun control and mental health. Leaders from across the political spectrum have issued statements of condolence, with many calling for tighter gun control laws.
