The suspected attacker is also dead, according to the Austrian Press Agency, bringing the total death toll to ten.

Police said that they arrived at the school shortly after the shots were reported and secured the premises.

“No further danger is expected,” the police said, adding that students had been evacuated and were receiving support from a crisis intervention team along with their parents.

Among those killed are at least seven students, said Graz Mayor Elke Kahr, describing the attack as a “terrible tragedy”. At least one adult was also killed.

“As a father, I am deeply saddened by this insane act, which has caused so much harm and incredible suffering,” he said. “My thoughts are with the innocent victims, families and teachers.”

Kronen Zeitung reported shots were first heard at about 10am (08:00 GMT) and the attack was carried out across two classrooms at the upper secondary school, which is attended by pupils of 14 years and older.

Police say they’re working on the assumption that there was a sole suspect.

Media report that the perpetrator, who took their own life, is a former student of the school, and labelled the attack one of the country’s worst mass shootings.

Graz, Austria’s second most populous city, is located in the southeast of the country and has a population of about 300,000 people.

Chancellor Christian Stocker is on his way to the school, a spokeswoman said. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was also expected at the scene.

A spokeswoman for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the killings “absolutely horrible and tragic.”

“We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the entire city Graz. We stand together in mourning and while we seek clarity in the wake of this horrible event,” she said.

Austrian police responded Tuesday to a school shooting in Graz, the country’s second-largest city. The Austria Press Agency reported that at least seven students and one adult were among those killed and that the suspected perpetrator was also dead, citing Graz Mayor Elke Kahr. Several people are also injured, according to Austrian public broadcaster ORF.

Police for the state of Styria, of which Graz is the capital, tweeted that shots had been heard inside the BORG Dreierschützengasse school in Graz and that an operation was underway. They later added that there were several deaths.

By 11:30 a.m., police said that the situation was under control and that the school was evacuated, with everyone there taken to a safe meeting point.

Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig offered his condolences to “the victims, their families, and all those who are now experiencing immeasurable suffering” in a statement.

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School shootings are rare in Austria, a country with a low prevalence of gun violence. According to Jason R. Silva, a member of the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, Austria had two public mass shootings — defined as shootings that took place “in a public or populated location” in which at least some victims “were targeted at random and/or for their symbolic value” — between 2000 and 2022, compared with 109 in the same period in the United States.

Differing reports in local media about number of casualties

Paul Kirby

Europe digital editor

As we’ve just reported, Austrian police have confirmed that the gunman is among those killed in this morning’s attack. Earlier reports suggested he had locked himself in a school toilet after the shooting.

Nine people have been killed, according to interior ministry officials quoted by Austrian media. At least seven of those dead are thought to be students at the school, and another was an adult.

There is still some confusion about the number of casualties as the mayor has said that 10 people were killed. We’ve contacted the interior ministry and will bring you updates as we get them.

Chancellor Christian Stocker has described the attack as a national tragedy that “strikes our country right at its heart”.

“These were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher, who had accompanied them on that journey.”

At least 10 people were killed and several others injured in a school shooting Tuesday in the southern Austrian city of Graz, local media reported.

A spokesperson for the Graz police told NBC News that “several people have been killed” at the BORG Dreierschützengasse school, a secondary school located in the northwest of the city.

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In a post on X, police said that the perpetrator was among those dead, adding that they were working on the assumption that there was only one suspect involved in the shooting.

Graz Mayor Elke Kahr told the Austrian Press Agency that at least one adult was among the 10 people to have died.

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“There is no longer a danger for the public,” the police spokesman said, adding that “the situation is under control.”

In an earlier series of posts on X, Austrian police said that an operation had been underway at the school after several emergency services, tactical units and a helicopter had been deployed to the area.

Police spokesman Fritz Grundnig told Austrian public broadcaster ORF that police evacuated the school building after gunshots were heard.

While the police did not confirm the number of people injured, Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported that at least 28 people had been wounded, including students and teachers.

They were taken to the nearby Helmut List Hall events space for emergency care, before later being taken to hospital.

While Graz is Austria’s second largest city, it’s still relatively small when compared with major U.S. cities, with a population of around 300,000. A meeting point was set up for the students’ parents at the ASKÖ football stadium, the police said on X.

In a press statement Tuesday, the police asked the public to “stay away from the area” and to “strictly follow the instructions of the emergency services.” They added that they had set up a platform for tips or other observations.

The Austrian interior ministry did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

The police spokesman said a press conference was scheduled for later today.

Ahead of the conference, Austrian media reported that Chancellor Christian Stocker is on his way to Graz, along with other members of the government.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said a shooting at a school in the city of Graz was a “national tragedy” in a statement on Tuesday and offered his condolences to the families who have lost their children.

“The rampage at a school in Graz is a national tragedy that has deeply shaken our entire country,” Stocker said.

“There are no words for the pain and grief that we all – all of Austria – are feeling right now,” he added.

Reuters