Austrian school shooter was likely a fan of online shooting games: Probe

The 21-year-old man suspected of carrying out Austria's worst school shooting this week was most likely an introverted fan of online shooting games, criminal investigators said on June 12.

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GRAZ, Austria -

The Austrian man, identified by the local media as Arthur A, killed 10 people before shooting himself at his former high school in the southern city of Graz, sending shockwaves through Austria, which declared three days of national mourning.

Police are still attempting to establish what motivated him, but Mr Michael Lohnegger, head of Styria state's criminal investigation office, said the man was introverted and that his great passion appeared to be online first-person shooting games.

"He led an extremely withdrawn life, he didn't want to take part in activities in normal life outside in the real world, he preferred to withdraw into the virtual space," Mr Lohnegger said.

The authorities said the suspect failed to complete his studies at the school. Local media outlets reported that the man, who lived with his mother on the outskirts of Graz, felt bullied at the school and wanted revenge, though police have not confirmed this.

Neighbours and officials painted the picture of a withdrawn young man who attracted little attention before the shooting.